Given the circumstances of those to whom Peter wrote his second letter, it’s not hard to see that in 2 Peter 1:12-21, the apostle wrote as he did. The false teachers were undermining his authority as an appointed apostle of the Lord and also downplaying the divinity of Jesus. In these verses, Peter puts them in their place and highlights something of his own first-hand experience as an eye and earwitness of the glory of Jesus and the certainty of God’s Word.
Author: Philip
2019 ministries begin again…
It’s mid-February already and many of our regular ministries are already underway (or about to begin). SMILE Playgroup began on Monday Feb 4th, ‘Welcome Wednesdays’ on Feb 6th, Sunday School on Sunday Feb 10th, Home Groups began again during last week, Men’s and Ladies’ Fellowships met this morning, our newly formed Youth Group meets this afternoon, the Ladies’ Home Group meets this Wednesday at 1:30pm, Playgroup registration day is this Friday (Feb 22nd) at 10am and our first Quarterly Prayer Gathering for the year is next Saturday (Feb 23rd) at 10am. Contact us if you would like more information about any of these regular events.
‘Growing Christlike in an ungodly world’ (2 Peter 1:5-11)
In the next verses of 2 Peter 1:5-11, Peter builds on his introduction concerning the overwhelming grace of God, to remind his hearers that this grace demands a response. We are to grow in that grace and become more like Christ and do that so that we may be effective in our life and witness as His people.
‘Standing firm in a slippery world’ (2 Peter 1:1-4)
The text of 2 Peter 1:1-4 gives us a wonderful insight into the life of the church of the first century when the apostles were alive. False teachers were the order of the day and God’s people needed to know what was right and what was wrong. In these first 4 verses, Peter makes it clear that God’s Word can be trusted and that moving away from the solid foundation of the grace of God is a dangerous thing to do.
Home Groups launch dinner, Wednesday Feb 6th, 6pm
To launch our Home Groups for the year, we’re getting together for our annual ‘Home Group Launch dinner’ on Wednesday night in the Hall. The dinner is open to all from the church family, but especially those who would like to be involved in a Home Group during 2019. (If you can’t make the dinner but would like to be involved in a Home Group, please let us know!’)
‘God Bless Australia’ (Rev Keith Bell)
Following Australia Day, Rev Keith Bell preached from the Bible the encouragement for people everywhere to honour God, not be ashamed of Jesus and to ‘stand in the breach’.
‘The parable of the friend at midnight’ (Luke 11, Rev Peter Phillips)
‘The parable of the good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:25-37, Rev Peter Phillips)
‘The claims of Jesus’ (John 5:18-47, Rev Keith Bell)
‘The king, the census and the cross’ (2 Samuel 24:1-25)
In 2 Samuel 24:1-25, there are some things that need sorting out. Who was it that incited David to go and conduct a census? And why was it that God’s anger burned against Israel because he did? And how was it that the due punishment for David’s sin was averted? And what is there in the text that leads us to the cross of Jesus?