Church notes - August 2018
5th August
Psalm 1
'Lift Up Your Voices': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MM9XOldR1w
'Only a Holy God': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPi5kArL04E
Prayer
For the farmers struggling financially and with their mental health due to the severe drought in the western regions of New South Wales and Queensland.
Members of the Baptist Church congregation struggling with cancer.
'How Deep the Father's Love For Us': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vmY2ztb5xc
Psalm 15
Choices
Good choices are decisions that help you head into the direction in which you want to go. Bad choices on the other hand, end up being counterproductive and quickly begin spirilling into stress, confusion and despair.
- Psychology Today
'10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM
Good Choices, Bad Choices
Psalm 1:1
The influence and advice of people we associate with affect our choices
e.g. the Media.
1:2
The righteous person meditates upon God's word
Meditate - root word: to mutter
1:6
Psalm 1:3
Psalm 1:4
A picture of Judgement
Matthew 3:12
Psalm 15
vs 3
Often we wrong people by our speech. e.g. Gossip
Where our allegience lies
vs 4
Ps 37:10
Proverbs 8:13
Ps 15:4
All healthy relationships are built on trust. God is faithful in keeping His word
vs 5
Psalm 133
God values unity
John 17:23
Ephesians 4:1 - 16
Ps 133
A picture of extravegance
Make choices based on God's word
Make choices based on righteousness
Make choices that promote unity
'Oceans': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_sWJQm2fs
12th August
Psalm 91
God's protection
- Comes when we are in difficult places
Prayer
- Drought! (All of NSW)
Communion
John 6:35 - 40
Jesus is talking about eternal life.
Without His existance, there is no life.
God's protection
He doesn't protect us in the way you think He would.
Psalm 61
vs 2: A great picture of God as a rest.
Desparation and reaching out to God.
Psalm 91
The Psalmist addresses God as a mighty God.
vs1, 2, 4
Sheltering
vs9, 10
We have to live with God as part of our lives.
vs 14 - 16
We need to love Him and know His love
- Protection
Being with you in trouble
Psalm 121
A song of celebration
vs 1
- Robbers hiding
- Place of refuge
- 'High Places' of idolatory
- God
Help comes from God
"Does God really protect us?"
Christians aren't immune to death, persecution, accidents...
Romans 8: 31 - 39
You have eternity because you have faith in God.
If you need protection come to these psalms for strength and encouragement
God is our great protector.
19th August
Psalm 99
Matthew 24:1 - 14
WEC - established 1913
A third of the world hasn't heard of Jesus.
STOMP - Short Term Overseas Missionary Program
e.g. to East Timor in October
Communion
Is not to be taken lightly
Missionary - you being you somewhere else
Matthew 24:1 -14
vs 1
The Disciples pointing out the ornate design of the Temple buildings
They didn't expect Jesus' response! He says 'Take your eyes off the buildings, pay attention to your heart!
He is more focused on our hearts than on outward show.
The last days
Deceptions, wars, wickedness
vs 14
All nations will hear the Word.
The certainty of the message
Certainty - It will be preached
The recipients of the message
16000 people groups
7000 haven't heard of Jesus!
Mongolia - 40000 believers
Japan: Prayer - Mrs S. - stumbling block. Pressure from the local Buddhist community has caused her to flee her community. Thus other's who may come to know Christ haven't her presence to encourage them...
The promise of the Message
Revelation 7:9, 10
Will you take up the challenge of sharing the love of Christ with people and the difference He's made in your life?
Are you open to going whereever the Lord asks you to go?
26th August
Psalm 66
Psalm 46
Luke 8:22 - 25
Storms of Life
Psalm 46
Some background - Assyrians besieging Jerusalem - 2 Kings 18:17 -
The refuge had become a prison
Refuge - stone walls
Who do you trust when the enemy is at the gate?
vs 1 - 3
God is with us in the midst of troubles
Romans 8:33 - 30
Nothing can separate us from God
vs 4
Ezekiel 47:1 - 12
Revelation 22:1, 2
A life giving source
vs10
Psalm 131
vs 1
We need to curb the urge to control everything
vs 2
Psalm 31
We need to quieten ourselves.
We need to commit ourselves into the Lord's hands.