Christmas is not about reindeer, sleigh bells or Santa, turkey, stuffing, mince pies or fruitcake, Christmas trees or presents. It’s not even about shepherds and wise men, a bright star or a manger. These last mentioned things help to make up the Bible’s account of the first Christmas, but they are not what it’s about.

God began the gift-giving tradition at Christmas by giving us His Son, Jesus. Why did He do that? Because we cannot deal with our own sin. We can no more change our sinful condition as a leopard can his spots! God sent His Son into the world to save us. The Bible says that, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The sad truth about Christmas is that although we all desperately need the Saviour that God sent, most people will not receive Him. Even though God’s offer is open to ‘whoever believes’ and there is no barrier in His eyes created by your skin colour or socio economic standing or which football team you support…still most people don’t mind the trimmings that go with Christmas itself, but they don’t want the Saviour that God sent.

So what is Christmas about? It’s about Jesus. It is possible to have Christmas without Jesus, but it will not be complete. You may well have the presents and all the trimmings, but without Jesus you only have the outer shell not the inner core. Imagine making more fuss over the wrapping paper than the gift it contains!

Christmas is nearly here and it will soon be gone. Don’t let it be another one filled with only wrappings and trimmings. You may never have another opportunity like this one. Seek Him.

Evidence for design abounds in this world. Even some ardent atheists acknowledge this, but they deny the need for a Designer, attributing it to ‘evolution’. Modern science reveals design that ‘shouts out’ that God created, as the Bible says. However, many reject God on the basis that he must be god to allow the terrible events and suffering that we see in the world today. The idea that there was a ‘global flood’ that covered the earth and any suggestion that the ‘Noah’s Ark’ story is true, now gets laughed at by many. But the Bible holds this out as a fact, and in this world there is evidence in support of it. Do you know what that evidence is?

Rod Walsh, a well known speaker on Creation matters, from Creation Ministry International, will present some of this faith-affirming evidence that will encourage you in his topic, ‘Noah’s Flood – A Deluge of Evidence’. It’s on at St John’s, 7pm on Friday 25 October 2024. Supper follows and tables full of CMI resources. Come and join us!

Now that our Home Groups have finished a Bible Study series on “Joseph and his amazing testimony” (Genesis 37-50), our next series has begun on Acts 1-12. Our prayer is that God will use this to revive and refresh His people as we note the way in which His church sprang into action and through the sharing and preaching of the gospel message about Jesus, transformed the world of their day! Come join us!

Yes, we have a piano to give away (see below).

It’s not new by any means and it cannot be tuned to concert pitch, but it can be tuned and would suit a learner or the ‘at home’ pianist. The only catch is that you will need to arrange pick up!  Contact us if interested.

 

 

Join us in Bendigo for a celebration of the progress of Bible translation around the world. There are still over 1.5 billion people in the world, speaking 6658 languages, who do not have a full Bible in the language they know best. The focus of this evening will be on the progress in recent years in the training and equipping of local translators and consultants.