‘Christianity Explored’

These really are uncertain times… and yet are also a really good opportunity to be asking some good questions, some of the bigger questions of life that will always be eternally important. Questions like, ‘Who is Jesus’ and ‘What does it mean to believe in Him’? These are questions that will be raised during an online course called ‘Christianity Explored.’

Christianity Explored is an informal and relaxed seven-week course based on the Gospel of Mark that gives time and space to consider the big questions of life and to explore the life of the person at the heart of the Christian faith – Jesus Christ.

It’s an ideal course to attend if you want to:

  • Find out what it what it means to be a Christian
  • Get involved in a Bible study group on the Gospel of Mark
  • Hear what the Bible says about the meaning of life
  • Go over some Bible basics so that you can share your faith better
  • Ask some questions about Christianity in an informal and non-threatening setting

As part of the course, the following also apply – you won’t need to know anything about the Bible, nor will you be asked to read aloud, pray or sing… but you will be able to ask any question you want!

Although this course runs best face-to-face (which is not possible at the moment), the next best option is to do this online – and we can do this via Zoom. Would you like to join in? (You’ll need to be ‘Zoom ready’ on your computer.)

Please contact us if you’d like to get some answers to those big questions and we will send you the needed Zoom link. There’s no restrictions as to how many can attend, and as there’s no need to leave home (guaranteed 100% COVID-19 safe!).

‘Elijah, the widow and her son’ (part 2) (1 Kings 17:17-24)

In 1 Kings 17:17-24, a further piece of a strange puzzle becomes clear for Elijah, even though for the widow with whom he was staying, this puzzle piece must have been quite a puzzle. After keeping Elijah and the widow and her son alive through God’s miraculous provision, the widow’s son suddenly died. This drove the woman to grief and to blame the Lord God of Israel that this was a form of punishment ‘for her sins’. However, this was not the case, and the miracle of the resurrection of her son (the first in the Bible) once more would prove God’s ways to be right and his servant a true man of God.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
00:41 Prayer
04:56 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #67)
Song: Jesus is the Hero
07:28 Indigenous Ministries
11:42 Bible reading: Mark 5:21-45
Song: O Great God
14:46 Bible reading: 1 Kings 17:17-24
16:17 Sermon: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Song: My Hope is Built
41:51 Closing

‘Elijah, the widow and her son’ (part 1) (1 Kings 17:8-16)

So far into his important ministry of declaring God’s Word to King Ahab of Israel, Elijah may be forgiven for wondering (if he ever did) what God had in mind – for no sooner had he appeared before the face of King Ahab, just as soon – the Lord directed him to disappear to a remote place. There, by the brook, fed by ravens, Elijah may well have also been surprised to find that his next place to stay would be with a widow and her son in Jezebel’s country! But there, as 1 Kings 17:8-16 tells us, God had plans for His prophet and there was a good reason for it all (as we may always expect with God!).

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:42 Prayer
05:03 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #69)
Song: Generous God
09:07 Indigenous Ministries
11:50 Bible reading: Luke 4:16-30
Song: My Heart is Filled
13:54 Bible reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16
15:21 Sermon: 1 Kings 17:8-16
Song: Grace Unmeasured
39:10 Closing

‘Elijah, the brook and the ravens’ (1 Kings 17:2-7)

After bursting onto centre stage to stand for a moment or two under the spotlight, Elijah had announced his one line to the king (about there being no more rain) and then just as quickly as he had come in, he exited stage right. 1 Kings 17:2-7 continue the story of where the Lord sent his prophet so that he too might survive the drought, there by a brook fed by ravens. The story is one of survival, but more than that. God was also teaching his prophet a lesson – one that we also might learn, because every circumstance, yes, even our survival is all dependent upon Him!

Full service

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Prayer
Song: 10,000 Reasons
04:54 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #39)
Song: The Old Black Crow
08:48 The Persecuted Church
Song: To God be the Glory
12:00 Bible reading: Matthew 6:26-34
Song: The Servant King
13:17 Bible reading: 1 Kings 17:2-7
14:12 Sermon: 1 Kings 17:2-7
38:07 Closing

‘Elijah, the King and the king’ (1 Kings 16:29-17:1)

There have been many people who have shot to fame (and so to the limelight) out of obscurity. In the Scriptures, Elijah the prophet is one such man. Not much is known about Elijah’s past except to say that he was from the town of Tishbe. Not much is known about his calling to be a prophet, but according to 1 Kings 16:29-17:1, we do know that his call to be a prophet brought him into the presence of Ahab, king of Israel.  He could do that, of course, because Elijah knew how to stand before Israel’s true King.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Crown Him with Many Crowns
00:37 Prayer
04:54 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #39)
Song: God Never Says Oops
08:26 The Persecuted Church
11:19 Bible reading: John 1:19-30
Song: O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer
13:00 Bible reading: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
14:17 Sermon: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
Song: In Christ Alone
37:59 Closing

Not July 5 after all!!

This morning we posted the news (in good faith) that with the easing of restrictions coming in on Monday June 22, we would be returning to worship on July 5. However, the Vic Government has just now delayed the easing of those restrictions until a further announcement to be made on July 12.

So….no, we won’t be meeting on July 5 after all….but keep your eye on this space for further updates.

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #10: Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

The life of the Apostle Paul was full of trial. At  the time of his conversion, the Lord said of him, ‘I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name’ (Acts 9:16). Reading through the book of Acts and any of his letters will bring those trials to mind – beatings, shipwreck, imprisonment, hatred, scorn and threats against his life – all of these were part of Paul’s experience. But there was another aspect of Paul’s life that he wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10… his ‘thorn’. The passage is helpful, for Paul was not the only one to have a ‘thorn’, and if you have one, then you will want to know how Paul dealt with it!

Full service

00:00 Introduction and prayer
Song: Jesus Thank You
03:46 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #99)
Song: Damascus Road
06:16 The Persecuted Church
09:39 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 11:16-31
Song: Christ is Mine Forevermore
13:04 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
15:10 Sermon: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Song: It is Well with My Soul
39:07 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #9: Job (Job 1:1-2:10)

In the Scriptures, perhaps it is the character of Job who gets the title of ‘the saint in the tightest of spots.’ His story is well-known and told to us in the book that bears his name. It’s a long read but worthwhile, especially Job 1:1-2:10. In these verses, the mystery of why Job suffered what he did is unfolded for us as we are told things that happened behind the scenes, behind the heavenly curtain, giving us an rare insight into the mystery of the trials that God allows – which are for our good and for His glory. Let Job’s story give you reason to ‘give thanks in all things’ – like the Scriptures teach us to do.

Full service

00:00 Introduction and prayer
Song: Worthy of All Praise
05:25 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #43)
Song: 1 Corinthians 2:9
09:04 Greetings from Chris and Naomi
11:31 Bible reading: Job 1
Song: Marvellous Grace
15:06 Bible reading: Job 2:1-10
16:52 Sermon: Job 1:1-2:10
Song: Blessed Be Your Name
42:14 Closing
Song: Blessed be the Name of Jesus

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #8: King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)

There are times when the need to pray becomes all the more urgent and important. The Scriptures also record for us the many examples of those who found relief by calling upon God in a moment of danger or trial. King Jehoshaphat was one of these. His prayer recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 stands out in Scripture as a prayer of great integrity and urgency, one that God, in His grace, chose to answer, encouraging us to seek after Him and so bring ‘everything to God in prayer’.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Jerusalem
00:38 Prayer
Song: You Can Tell the Lord that You Love Him Anytime
04:29 Greetings from Daniel and Courtney
Song: God’s Love Is Strong Love
07:29 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-17
Song: Amazing Grace
10:35 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 20:17-30
13:12 Sermon: 2 Chronicles 20
Song: Before the Throne
23:18 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #7: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:1-30)

The story of the three Hebrew men standing firm in the face of the fury of the King Nebuchadnezzar and his infamously hot furnace, has long been a Sunday School favourite. Yet the story is far from one that belongs to the children alone. Daniel 3:1-30 tells of courage, bravery and obedience – all in the face of great trial and remains something that urges God’s people along today on our walk with the Lord in this world.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: O Worship the King
00:41 Prayer
05:01 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #48)
Song: The One and Only God
10:09 Greetings from Ryan Smith at CU Bendigo
13:26 Bible reading: Daniel 3:1-15
Song: Behold Our God
16:13 Bible reading: Daniel 3:16-30
19:50 Sermon: Daniel 3
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
42:20 Closing