Along with many other churches in our land, we took part in ‘Solidarity Sunday’ today by praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world and watching a short video released by the Australian Christian Lobby. We make prayer for the persecuted church a regular part of our worship and will continue to do so!
https://vimeo.com/110220388
1 Samuel 31 tells us how the Philistines attacked Israel and were victorious, ending both King Saul and his sons’ lives – Saul’s sons in the battle and Saul by his own hand. Saul’s tragic life ended in a sad and lonely death, having refused to turn away from his mad pursuit of David and having failed to turn away from his sin. Saul’s death came about according to the Lord’s own warning to him, but even this did not deter him from this course of action. Saul’s death stands in stark contrast to the death of Jesus, the true King, whose death was not senseless and sad, but secured the salvation of the people of God and brings them real and eternal hope.
L-R: Naval Cadets: Petty Officer Sophie Hamilton, Leading Seaman Leone Sevudredre, Leading Seaman Catherine Aikman, Lieutenant Commander Amy York, HMAS Cerberus and Reverend Peter Hastie, PTC.
Rev. Peter Hastie, Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College preached at our annual Seafarer’s (Naval) Service, from Acts 27 concerning the shipwreck the Apostle Paul endured on his journey to Rome. Peter asked the question, ‘How do you handle your worst fears?’ and then proceeded to provide encouragement from the way Paul trusted in God’s promises and plans in the most dangerous of situations, encouraging us to also ‘cast our anchors deep’ into the solid nature of those promises God gives us in His Word. (Unfortunately there was no sound recording due to an oversight.) The service was attended by members of Bendigo’s Ex-Navalmen’s Club, Lieutenant Commander Amy York, RAN, OAM, Cr Elise Chapman, Lisa Chesters MP and cadets from the TS Bendigo
1 Samuel 30:1-31 tells how, when David returned to Ziklag, he and his men found a calamitous situation. All their houses had been burned to the ground, their goods stolen and their wives and children captured. His men soon began to talk of a mutiny. David, however, found strength in God, sought and obtained His direction, saw God’s sovereign hand providing his needs, and, after all was returned, even became a channel of His grace. Even on his his worst day from the bottom of the pit, David proved that God was near and would not let him go. Jesus went to the bottom of that pit to save His people on the cross – the fullness of grace to the undeserving.
Join us at St John’s on Sunday October 19th at 10:30am when we welcome members of the Bendigo ex-Navalmen’s Club (and their special guest, Lt. Com. Amy York, RAN), and the cadets in uniform!) and staff of the TS Bendigo for our Annual Naval Service. This year’s speaker is the Rev. Peter Hastie (pictured), Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College. Appropriately, Peter has chosen to speak on the account of the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27. Morning tea follows in the hall. All are welcome
When David entered the service of the Philistine King, seeking relief from the mad pursuing King Saul, he placed himself into a real ‘Catch 22′ situation’ with no way out. God, however, had other ideas, and, as is told in 1 Samuel 29:1-11, through the unrest in the Philistine camp and the orders of the Philistine King and His own intervening hand, God rescued his servant from a terrible spot. David had to learn, however, that his own poor choices brought all this upon his own head and yet, at the same time, be assured that God held him in the palm of His hand and would not let him go.
Missionary Dennis Tranter preached on a summary of the life of Abraham from Genesis 12-22, highlighting the main challenges that he faced in following the Lord’s command to him. By trials and difficult circumstances, Abraham’s faith grew to the point where he could trust God completely when told to kill his son Isaac. His faith was perfected through trials so that now we speak of Abraham as a ‘man of faith’ and a ‘friend of God’.
Have you ever had someone tell you that you’re not quite there as a Christian, that you need to do something else, fulfil some extra requirement, maybe have some sort of extra experience? if you do that then you’ll be a real Christian! In preaching on Colossians 2:6-23, Steve Blyth points out how the Apostle Paul says very clearly that authentic Christianity is all about Jesus. If you have Him – you have everything you need. It’s through keeping Jesus at the very centre of our focus that we grow in the way God wants us to and become the type of people He’s created us to be. Beware of people who tell you otherwise.
We are pleased that long-term Presbyterian missionaries, Dennis & Glenys Tranter (with AIM), who have worked extensively among the Aboriginal people of our land (particularly Borroloola in the Northern Territory), will be with us on September 27th and 28th.
Dennis will speak at the Men’s Fellowship at 8am on Sat 27th and Glenys will speak at the Ladies’ Brunch at 10am which follows on the same morning. Then on Sunday 28th, they will both share in the morning service, Dennis will preach and then they will share with us again over our regular monthly lunch in the hall. Come and join us!
1 Samuel 28:3-25 is one of the more difficult passages from the Old Testament, but it is clear that the chapter records how Saul, desperately needing advice about an impending war, consulted a medium who made contact with the recently dead Samuel. The fact that Saul did this shows how far he had slipped from grace. Having rejected God and His Word, Saul had nothing left to cling to. He refused to listen to God, so God stopped speaking to him, illustrating the biblical principle that we reap what we sow, which, in this case again, was to his further demise.