The FOCUS Webinar Series is a monthly opportunity to engage with quality Bible College level teaching. Each session is delivered by an active academic practitioner from Carey Baptist College in Auckland.
Ten sessions throughout the year, streamed on the first Wednesday of the month.
For many of us we have heard the nativity story many times before. For many of us we have been characters in the play as we grew up. A big shout out to all those church kids who had to be camels, donkeys or sheep!
This is the first article in the series on justice and race by Timothy Keller. Keller is a world renowned pastor, theologian and apologist. As our culture tears itself apart seeking more and more ways to divide us Keller offers an interesting challenge and critique to a deeply troubling issue.
In less than seven days New Zealanders will be voting on the End of Life Choice Act. This referendum is binding, the result will decided if the provisions in the act will become part of New Zealand’s legal framework.
Throughout the debate much of the conservative voice has been silenced and mocked. David Seymour argued in public meetings that one person should not have to suffer due to the moral choices of another. A subtle slight towards those of us who hold to the sanctity of life and death.
Yet the reality of living in community means we do this everyday! In fact as a team of 5 million we all ‘suffered’ a prolonged lock down and restriction of freedoms to protect those who are vulnerable in our society from the COvid19 virus. Our choices were restricted, and are still restricted to prevent harm to our most vulnerable.
This act will have incredibly detrimental effects on the care and well being of our most vulnerable. Please click on the link below to find out how you can encourage more people to engage in this important vote.
God is weaving a masterpiece and we are all a strand within it. Our theme for Prayer and Self-Denial 2020 has been derived from the well-known metaphor of a beautifully woven tapestry. Throughout the appeal we have likened the top side of the tapestry to the Kingdom of God, with the bottom side symbolising the messiness of life.
Our Tranzsend people are serving in some very messy places yet, with God’s guidance and prompting, we are making the Kingdom of God known in the places we are serving.
1) Woven Together, Whiriwhiria te tangata (weaving the people). This theme celebrates the relationships we are a part of, as well as the uniqueness of God’s people. We all play a part in the masterpiece.
2) Mending the Mess, E renarenatia ana te miro mā, te miro pango, te miro whero e te karaiti ihu (All threads are tied together by Jesus). This theme challenges believers to trust in God through the mess. Only Jesus has sufficient love and grace to forgive and resolve wrongs that have come about from sin.
3) The Perfect Picture, Te tui raumata o te rungarawa (the tapestry of God). Though we will not see the completed masterpiece until Christ returns, there are times God gives us glimpses of His Kingdom here on earth. Each glimpse reveals to us more of His character and His heart for people.
God’s masterpiece is the fulfilment of His Will. Will you engage with us in God’s mission for this world?
Over the next few weeks we will be looking at Matthew 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount. We will be using some awesome video teaching from Video Bible Talks and reflections from people within our own church community.
To say that there is plenty going on in the world at the moment is a classic understatement. We are living in and through a global viral pandemic. We are seeing rising social unrest that has spilled from the United States into our own country around the value of human lives and issues of systemic injustice.
This week we continue our series – Women in the Bible. Annette will be sharing about the life of Rebekah. We will also be taking communion. Thanks for joining us online.
This morning we continue our series: Women in the Bible. Simon will be teaching from 1 Samuel and looking at Hannah and how her barrenness caused cultural-less-ness.
We celebrate Mother’s Day today and our service also includes an update from Manna home, one of our Global mission partners.
Its great to have you join us, so grab a seat wherever you are and settle in.
We pray that God by His Holy Spirit will meet you, minister to you and that soon we will be able to gather physically and not just virtually.