RevWrites- Dec 21

Someone joked last week about it being wedding season at NAC. We have had an unusual number of marriages in the month leading up to Christmas. It is good to be part of a church where so many young people belong and then reach the time to marry. Please remember to pray for those you know as they settle into their new relationship.

BUT, it’s really the season to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

Last week I wrote about the fact that God is love. Individuals may love. Jesus loves. But no individual person can be described as “love” as only God is love. Because God exists as three persons in one being, the Trinity, only he can in essence be love.

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most profound and practical doctrines. It explains our experience of God and his love.

Christmas is all about the incarnation – God becoming a man. It’s about as difficult to understand as the Trinity. But it’s also amazingly practical. So let’s think about some of the practicalities.

First, it reveals that deity and humanity are not incompatible. Both God-ness and humanity can exist in the one being. That is good news for us humans. Although, of course, Jesus was perfect so he can co-exist with God the Son. Unlike us who are sinful.

Jesus is able to die in our place because he is human. The penalty for sin was death of a man. But because Jesus is also God his death can take the penalty for all people. Then, those who trust in Jesus’ death are reckoned perfect by the Father and can be in his presence, like Jesus.

Second, Jesus never stops being a human. When he was resurrected he was a human. When he ascended into heaven he was a human. When he sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, he remains a human. So he is able to intercede so effectively because he is human. (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 5:2)

So humans are able to be in eternity, in heaven!

The Trinity and the Incarnation are both important doctrines. Previous generations of Christians (more than 100 years ago) seemed to have less problems than we do in talking about these doctrines, although we are much more educated  people(?). Perhaps it doesn’t have much to do with education?

Perhaps it has more to do with knowing and enjoying these practical doctrines and more readiness in society to interact with ideas. Then again, society today is becoming much more willing to interact with ideas.

So, over Christmas, chat to friends about these two very practical doctrines. You never know where you might end up!

Robyn and I wish you all a very blessed and joyful Christmas and thank you for the joy of your fellowship in the gospel. You are very precious to us. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

RevWrites - Dec 7

Two very able ministers have resigned recently. Both resigned because their marriages have collapsed. One is alleged to have developed a relationship with another woman. The other’s wife simply left him. I know both of them and admired the way they ministered.

But it makes you think. It made me think about how important prayer is. There are people who pray for me regularly. Some even pray every day for me. I thank God for them because they ask our Heavenly Father to protect me and watch over me. So when I’m tired or stressed or whatever, I don’t make really unhelpful choices that result in disaster.

Our Father is only too keen to answer the prayers of his people. He always desires what is best for us and is always for us and our good. So I am always thankful for those who pray for me. Some of them, I don’t even know about! But that doesn’t matter. It’s not knowing that someone is praying for you or “thinking about you” that makes a difference. (Except it makes you feel good.) It’s asking God to do something that makes a difference.

I’ve told you a couple of times that I’ve been praying for our neighbours. I’ve tried to pray for them several times a day. I’ve prayed specifically for those I know and generally for those I don’t. I’ve asked our Father to soften their hearts to his gospel. I’ve asked him to prepare them for our visits.

On Sunday afternoon, when the 5.00pm congregation went to visit our neighbours for “G’day Sunday,” a couple of members (in their 90s) stayed at the church and prayed for us all.

Even so, when Robyn and I knocked on their doors on Sunday, it was still a little surprising that every one of them received us well, even some who have a long history of antagonism towards our church. I should not have been surprised at all. Our Heavenly Father actually answers our prayers – sometimes by making visiting easier, like on Sunday, and sometimes by using us as his agents who bring the message of judgment.

But it raises the question: Do we expect God to answer our prayers? And what if he does? Are we ready to have many more members of NAC next year? What if just 1% of the community came to church. That’s more than another 100 people. We could fit them in at 9.00, 9.30 and 5.00. But that would leave no more room for growth.

If we pray and expect God to save people, then surely we must plan for the growth! The Parish Leadership is doing this. Please pray that our father will give us wisdom.

Neil

P.S. There are some Sundays when I go home really impressed with what God is doing at NAC. Last Sunday was one. As I mentioned above, we went visiting to say “G’day” with the 5.00pm congregation. The 9.00 congregation had already said “G’day” to their neighbours. A bunch of Young Adults came at 11.00 to say “G’day” to more streets. Then 5.00pm went out to say “G’day.”

Finally, on Sunday night the 6.45 congregation were asked to pledge support for Tania for next year. This congregation understands the value of specialised youth ministry. They pledged $34,000 towards Tania’s costs. I went home really impressed – with both God and his church.

645 Church Appeal (Tania) 09

On Sunday 30th November

We pledged $34,359

$3149 - From Club Reg and Senior High Youth
$31210 - From Young Adults and Older Adults

We expect to have raised $6470 by the end of the week.

We expect $17249 on February 1 2009

There is $10640 of periodic payments being given from Jan 1 2009.

There are 2-3 couple/individuals still to finalize their gift towards this great project.

Praise be to our God who has challenged our hearts to be generous with our stuff.

e

RevWrites - Nov 30

One of the Parish Wardens recently commented that he didn’t realise that our church property was used so often. He was surprised that Thursday morning was the only time each week when there is nothing on at church.

When you think about it, it’s hardly surprising. After all, we all only come to the church when there’s something on that we are involved in.

But what’s on at the church is only part of the picture. I received this email this week:

Dear Neil
We finished ESL today for 2008.

We have had 10 people come over the year with 7 having children/grandchildren at the school.

The 2 students we have the most contact with have grandchildren. Today we gave them a Green tent leaflet, JGs/BoB card along with Christmas leaflets from the Bible Society and Matthias Media. We are hoping that the grandchildren, who speak English, will read them to their grandparents.

It has been a joy to see our Chinese gentleman begin to understand the English language and develop relationships with the other students and with us. Our Romanian lady has asked us to pray for her and her family many times.

The Primary School are happy to have us at the school and we have developed relationships with the office staff.

As a team we have been challenged and encouraged by the way God works in peoples lives. We thank God we have been able to pray with our students.

Now we are praying for next year!

Kind Regards
Denise Carpenter

NAC is involved in many ministries to many people. Sometimes, when announcing the collection at church, the leaders will say it’s for ministry here at NAC. The leader’s right, it is. But it’s also for ministry around the world. It’s used to support the Berthons in Ngukurr, Alison Collis in France, Steve Barnett and Matt Daley in the high schools, the Baikies (even when they’re home), the Santiches in NZ, and CMS generally and Moore College.

Our money is only part of the picture. Much ministry happens here at church and outside of the church. I’m not sure that even I, as Senior Minister, know all the ministry that happens at NAC and I’m sure I don’t know even a small part of the ministry NAC members do as individual Christians.

NAC is having an ever-widening effect for the gospel. Pray that is continues and continues to widen.

Neil Macken (neil @nac.asn.au)

RevWrites - Nov 23

This is the eighth consecutive RevWrites on membership. I hope you have given some thought to the topic. Several people have responded directly to me and there is increasing discussion around the place. Ideas range from there should be no formal membership at all right through to there should be a formal membership agreement that a person must sign before they can be regarded as a member of NAC/WHAC.

So where to now? It would be good for the Parish Leadership to seriously discuss the various ideas that you have brought to us. We could then come back to you early next year with some suggestions about the way ahead.

So let’s talk about “Say G’day Sunday.” (The Big Connect ~ 645). Research tells us exactly what we already know. The biggest problem with church members going to invite their neighbours to Christmas services is fear. A reasonable response, I would have thought.

But let’s look at what we’re being asked to do. A very attractive leaflet is being produced that has details of our Christmas Eve Service and Christmas Day Services. On Christmas Eve we have QuizWorks coming to run the entire service with children in mind. They are great! On Christmas Day both WHAC and NAC have a service.

We’re being asked to knock on our neighbour’s door, say “g’day”, and hand them the leaflet with an invitation to join us at Christmas. Do it your way but we aren’t being asked to engage in lengthy conversation. Just an invitation to join us.

Of course, this is only the first of several visits to our neighbours that we will do over the next year. Already, the youth visit the immediate neighbours of the church building to thank them for their patience with all the inconveniences we cause during the year. The youth give them a small gift so the immediate neighbours are used to being visited. (Of course, most of them are in Thomas Street where I live so it would be good for me to visit them don’t you think?)

We have been praying for our neighbours for many months now. I have been praying for my street and neighbours several times a day. I expect God will answer my prayers. He seems to delight in doing that so I expect he will again this time and go before me when I visit – even if I’m not allocated Thomas Street, which will be allocated to me won’t it Kathy?!?!

Of course, if one of your neighbours responds to your “G’day” with a request to tell him how to become a Christian (It has happened!) then you don’t have to rush away. If you fell like rushing away, you might be in the majority. But if you’re at a loss simply tell him how much you appreciate all that Jesus ahs done for you and invite him to come to our church where he can find out more about Jesus.

Fear needn’t win the day. But if the apostle Paul asked people to pray that God would give him boldness, then it’s surely appropriate for us to ask the same prayer.

Neil Macken (neil@nac.asn.au)

RevWrites - Nov 16

Last week I gave a summary of our discussion so far about church membership. This week I want to suggest another aspect of membership that we don’t often think about. One NACer sent me a membership brochure from another church. In part it read:

The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that a plurality of elders is to oversee each local body of believers. The specific duties given to these elders presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care.

Among other things, these godly men are responsible to shepherd God’s people (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2), to labor diligently among them (1 Thess. 5:12), to have charge over them (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17), and to keep watch over their souls (Heb. 13:17). Scripture teaches that the elders will give an account to God for the individuals allotted to their charge (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:3).

Those responsibilities require that there be a distinguishable, mutually understood membership in the local church. Elders can shepherd the people and give an account to God for their spiritual well-being only if they know who they are; they can provide oversight only if they know those for whom they are responsible; and they can fulfill their duty to shepherd the flock only if they know who is part of the flock and who is not.

The elders of a church are not responsible for the spiritual well-being of every individual who visits the church or who attends sporadically. Rather, they are primarily responsible to shepherd those who have submitted themselves to the care and the authority of the elders, and this is done through church membership.

Conversely, Scripture teaches that believers are to submit to their elders. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders, and submit to them.” The question for each believer is, “Who are your leaders?” The one who has refused to join a local church and entrust himself to the care and the authority of the elders has no leaders. For that person, obedience to Hebrews 13:17 is impossible. To put it simply, this verse implies that every believer knows to whom he must submit, which, in turn, assumes clearly defined church membership.

What do you think about the central idea here? The idea that for the leaders of our church to exercise leadership and pastoral care responsibly we need a more clearly defined membership.
Talk about it. Let me know what you think.

Neil Macken (Neil@nac.ans.au)

Can you help Kate Fearn?

Let Kate know on Sunday if you would like to come.
ed

RevWrites - Nov 9

I’ve had one response to my invitation to talk about membership. It was a very stimulating email that even had some ideas on church membership from another church.

So this week, let me stimulate our dialogue. I think we should have a NAC Membership Agreement. I think that before you can say you’re a member of NAC you should agree to certain things. But what would you put on the list of things you agree to?
• Exercising ministry/ies at church
• Caring for other members
• Attending church (how frequently?)
• Connecting with neighbours
• Bible Reading (every day/once a week?)
• Serving those outside the church
• Social Responsibility
• Praying (how often/for how long?)
• Serving on a Diocesan committee of some sort
• Serving on a Mission Society committee of some sort
• Welfare work
• Tithing
• Washing the senior minister’s car
• Evangelism at work

You can see that I might be tempted to put some things on the list that you might not include. But if we don’t talk about it what will go on the list? Should there be a list? What would a membership agreement look like? Can we have stuff on it that isn’t clearly in 1 Corinthians or the Bible?

Or should we just keep going as we always have? I think we should think about this and talk about it. Talk with each other. Talk with your small group leaders. Talk with your congregational leaders. You might even talk to ME!

If you’ve missed reading any of the RevWrites that lead up to this let me know and I’ll make sure you get them. The one response has made me think about how you resign membership. I’ve also had some ideas about membership defining more clearly the relationship between a member and the eldership of the church. Keep thinking. Keep talking.

P.S. Kathy’s just told me she need RevWrites next week by Wednesday. So it would be good to have your responses by Tuesday. I guess that leaves Monday!

Neil Macken (neil@nac.asn.au)

Does Acts say we need to speak in tongues?

Our exploration of cross shaped spirituality in 1 Corinthians 12-14 throws up so many questions and issues - much more than we can explore on a Sunday night. A big issue has been the debate over the book of Acts. Traditionally Pentecostals have seen it as providing a blue print for the church today. They say the problem with the church is that it has lost connection with it's original Spirit empowered ministry which changed the world. If only we would return to the pattern of the early church in Acts we would see a new explosion of revival and impact for Jesus in our world. 

So what do we say? Are they right and we're wrong - the short answer is 'no' (surprise, surprise). The long answer would take many blogs and books. In this discussion I want to paint some broad brushstrokes that will help us begin to digest and discuss these issues. 

1. The standard response of conservative evangelicals has been to say that Acts is just describing history. It tells us what happened not what should happen. It is the letters of the New Testament that give us the commands and shape of the church for today. This might seem attractive at first but it is a bit of a lazy cop out - it puts the book of Acts in a lower level in the Bible as just history with little to teach the church. We have to do better if we're serious about the Word of God.

2. So we need to understand what kind of book we're reading when we read Acts. Firstly, it's a narrative or story like the gospels are. This is not saying it's not true but rather that it has a plot, characters, drama, tension etc. We're taken on a journey with the early church which challenges and encourages us. Secondly, it is history. The book is very consciously placed in the historical social geographic context of its events. Thirdly, has a theological purpose - it is written to teach us something about Jesus and his people. We see this in the development of big themes like the fulfillment of God's promises, the rule of Jesus over his people through his Spirit and the expansion of the church. So the best thing to say is that the book of Acts is a theological historical narrative. 

3. This means we need to read, wrestle with and obey Acts with that as our framework. So we can't just pluck verses out of Acts and nail them to a church mission statement. We can't say that just because it happened in Luke we MUST do it. So simply because a group of people speak in tongues does not mean Christians ought to or must do today. It's a flawed logic. It would be like arguing that because Paul went from synagogue to pagan temples that must be our model of evangelism. Or it would be like arguing that because the early believers sold their possessions to help out the poor we must to. Or it would be like arguing that our preachers must copy the format and content of Paul and Peter's sermons. So yes Acts has a lot to say to us today but we avoid simplistic pronouncements. As we read Acts we're encourage, rebuked and challenged to live for Jesus. Exactly how requires to read carefully. 

4. The way that we read carefully is to prayerfully humbly observe and wrestle with how Luke unfolds his story. If he has written a theological historical narrative with a purpose then the way he shapes individual scenes will tell us what do with them. 

5. So let's throw out an example. Acts 8:4-25 is often used as an example that the Spirit does not come at conversion. The Samaritans believe, get baptised and then later receive the Spirit after Peter and John lay hands on them. So people argue that you believe and then later you get the Spirit (often with tongues being held up as THE evidence of that reception of the Spirit). Without unpacking all the detail of my college thesis (that's a whole different blog if anyone is interested...he says hopefully) - this passage does not teach that. If we read carefully and closely we see Luke is telling us that it is a unique event (not a model for us today). The delay in the reception of the Spirit is about God guiding history - God brings the apostles to Samaria to witness for themselves that the gospel has expanded beyond Jerusalem to include even the despised Samaritans. 

There's so much more that could be said and no doubt more questions you can ask but this is a start. I'd welcome more interaction and discussion on this. Respond to this post or email me with any thoughts or questions.

James Lewis

Rev Writes - 2nd Nov

When a friend asks you about church you say, “I go to NAC.” When we say that, we are saying more than “I go to the footy.” We are making a statement about belonging to NAC.

Belonging to NAC means something important to us. Over the last few weeks we’ve been thinking about what we mean when we say we belong to NAC. We’ve been exploring the idea of membership. And, because we’re NAC, we’ve been doing this exploration as we’ve been looking at 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians has things to say about church.

Let’s do a quick review. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about gifts. Being a member of NAC means I use my gifts for the common good. I use my gifts in fellowship. I am guided by others so I know how to use my gifts well

1 Corinthians 13 talks about love. Being a member of NAC means that serving others and
meeting the needs of others is more important than simply using my gifts. I will, out of love, serve others even if I feel inadequate.

1 Corinthians 12 talks about NAC being like a human body. Every part of our body is important and is needed. When someone has a part of their body missing or not working properly we describe them as handicapped. We don’t want to be handicapped at church so every member of NAC is important and needed.

So we looked at the idea that being there when NAC meets is significant. Choosing not to be in church is an important decision, one which shouldn’t be taken without fellowship. So we thought about deciding to miss church as something we should talk over with others.

Being at church, caring about the needs of other members, and using all that God has given me for the common good are three things that seem to be part of membership.

This is the fifth RevWrites on membership. There’s a few to go. If you’ve missed one or more email me and I’ll send them to you (neil@nac.asn.au). They contain some good ideas!

But soon the rubber has to hit the road. We can talk about membership for ever. How do we act on what we talk about?

Do you think we should define membership more clearly? Do you think we should have a document that spells out what it means to belong to NAC? Do you think we should ask people to sign up for membership? Should membership be required before people vote at annual meetings?

These are just a few questions that come to mind. If I knew how to set up a blog I’d start one on our website so we could all interact about this. Anyone want to have a go?

In the meantime, email me your thoughts or phone me or write me a letter or even talk to me about what you think about membership. I think that when I say to someone “I go to NAC.” that

I’m saying something very important. I’m just not sure exactly what it means. I’m also not sure that you think the same thing as I do about belonging to NAC.

So, where to from here?

Neil Macken

Rev Writes- October 26

Making decisions in the body of Christ.

Decision making is part of everyday life. Throughout most days we all make countless decisions. What will I have for breakfast, lunch, dinner? At home, work or school we make decisions. Usually, we make them on our own. Other people expect us to make decisions on our own. Independence is a celebrated part of modern life.

Is it the same at church? As we’ve looked together at 1 Corinthians we’ve seen how Paul uses the body metaphor to help us understand church. In chapter 12 he stresses that every part of the body, every member of the church, is part of the one body and linked to every other part.

Every part of the body, every member, is important and significant and indispensible. No single member can ever say that they don’t matter.

This is very important when it comes to making decisions about our life, especially our life at church or how our life impacts church. At Synod this week another member and I moved a motion that called upon all Anglican Schools and other Anglican organisations not to put events on Sundays in competition with the churches. We did this because sometimes school teachers, for example, are placed in difficult positions because their school schedules events on Sundays. They then have to choose between complying with their agreement with the school or missing their church.

The motion we put at Synod was really the only way that we can call on others that are in fellowship with us to think more carefully about what they’re doing and how it affects others.

Sometimes other things come up in our personal lives that conflict with church. Far too often members of our congregations simply miss church for other things. 1 Corinthians calls on us not to make decisions about missing church on our own. The independence which is so important in our society makes it hard to behave in a truly spiritual way here.

We need to learn to make decisions in fellowship, as members of the same body. Notice that I’m not saying you can’t miss church for other important things. I’m saying that the Bible calls on us to make decisions like this in fellowship rather than in isolation. Although, I suspect that one reason why we find it difficult to act spiritually in such decisions is that we know our brothers and sisters will think we’re making an unhelpful decision! We really don’t want to know what they have to say.

But anyway, making good decisions, and modelling good decision making to our children and others, is a mark of Christian maturity. Involving others in our decisions, decisions that affect them, is a mark of true spirituality. Having the advice of others, especially of the leaders that God has given to his churches, can be a source of great blessing and comfort in our lives. We would be wise to seek out such advice and comfort.

Neil Macken

 

Rev Writes - October 19

We all like to belong. At school, we all liked to be chosen for the team, whether it was playground hand-ball or school athletics. Being chosen gives a sense of belonging.

We’ve been exploring what it means to belong to NAC. So far, on the basis of 1 Corinthians 12 alone, we can see that serving others with the gifts God has given us is one aspect of belonging. We’ve started to think about how each one of us is serving others within the body of Christ, our church.

We’ve noticed that this thinking mustn’t be done in isolation for God has made each one of us members if his church here at NAC or WHAC. So we must think about how we serve in fellowship with others and the leaders God has given us.

So ministering to others is clearly one aspect of belonging to NAC. But there seems to be a problem with this idea. Over the years many courses have been developed to help us identify the gifts that God has given us. We’ve run some here at NAC. And people have been encouraged to serve others by using the gift/s they’ve identified.

But can you see a problem with this approach? I think the problem has arisen because we live in such a self-centred society. The courses have been designed to identify my gift/s. I am encouraged to use my gift/s in ministry to others.

But are they my gift/s? 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that they are the Spirit’s gifts. He gives them. They belong to him. He enables us to minister effectively to others. He uses our ministry to edify others.

Also, in 1 Corinthians Paul’s focus is not on gifts but on love. It seemed the Corinthians focussed on giftedness, especially the more spectacular, self-promoting gifts. They were keen to be seen as spiritual. But Paul is keen on love. He is keen on serving, in a very practical sense. True spirituality is very practical (earthy) service of others and meeting their needs.

I think I saw this attitude in action when I was a new Christian. The Charismatic Movement had only just begun and our church was only slightly influenced by it. But the leaders, mostly lay people, encouraged me to do various ministries. I was invited to be an usher alongside other ushers. I was trained in Sunday School teaching and a year later given a class. I was given opportunities to speak about various things. I was invited to lead a youth group and to join the Parish Council.

No one ever asked if I had any gifts for these things! They simply looked for opportunities for me to serve others, to show practical, spiritual love. I was often out of my depth. But they stood with me and kept my head above the water so I didn’t drown. And I learnt to serve. I learnt to look for opportunities to help, to love others.

So, does membership at NAC mean I look at myself, my giftedness, or “how God has wired Me”? Perhaps a better way would be to look at 1 Corinthians 13, which isn’t for weddings but for church, and seek out opportunities to love – real earthy spirituality – even if I’m not sure if I have the gifts needed to help? Perhaps if we actually trusted the Spirit to enable us to serve we might discover we really are very spiritual indeed.

Neil Macken

Rev Writes - October 12

“I am a Member of NAC.” Last week we started to explore what this means. We could see it in terms of the Anglican Church and its rules and ordinances. But for us here at NAC we always start with what the Bible says and the Bible has serious things to say about church.

In 1 Corinthians 12 we read about God giving to every one of his people gifts for serving others in the church. So here’s a good starting point. God equips his people to build up his church. Every Christian is enabled by God to serve his people and to play their part in helping others grow towards maturity in Christ.

So how does that relate to membership? If every member of NAC is gifted by God to serve other members then serving other members surely must be part and parcel of membership.

There’s a few issues to discuss here. Like, in what way has God enabled me to serve others? In the past Christians often spent time trying to identify the gift or gifts that God had given them and then looked for opportunities to use that gift. Have another look at 1 Corinthians 12. Do you think that is the approach that Paul is recommending? After all, he doesn’t even tell us anything about the various gifts he mentions except where they come from and why we’ve got them. So to spend time trying to identify and describe and analyse gifts seems to miss the point.

Another issue is how do I develop my gifts/abilities? Does NAC need to run courses on gift development before members use their gifts? Or do they develop with use?

Another issue is do I need to be officially recognised before I minister to and serve others? Obviously with some ministry that’s essential. We do want to maintain high standards of child protection, for example. And we want those who teach the Bible to be equipped to teach it soundly. But aren’t there a whole lot of other opportunities to serve others?

There’s a number of questions that need to be discussed but it seems pretty clear that serving others in the church is one clear aspect of membership. So, how are you serving? We need to think about that and be OK with the answer each of us has.

But our answer mustn’t be considered in isolation. Every one of us is a part of NAC. So we are bound to each other and united in Christ with each other. So our answer must be considered in fellowship with others. Talking to your friends and leaders about how you serve others and help them grow towards maturity in Christ seems to be essential.

So if we actually have a more defined idea of membership here should we include ministry to others at NAC as part of membership? And if so, how much ministry is required for membership? Are some ministries in and others not so important? Have another read of 1 Corinthians 12 and see what God says about these questions and if he answers any other questions that pop into your had.

While you’re there, you might like to read the rest of 1 Corinthians in preparation.

Neil Macken

Rev Writes - October 5

We had a request this week from Mark Gliddon. NAC used to support Mark as a missionary. He needed some form of proof that he was a member of the Anglican Church. Do you know how we define members of the Anglican Church? Most people don’t. So you’re probably in the majority.

I’m a member of a golf club. It’s the cheapest nearby club I could find at the time I joined. I have certain obligations and responsibilities as a member and certain rights. Some of you are members of clubs and societies. If you’re a member of our Preschool ($1.00 a year!) then you have the right to vote at the annual meeting. If you’re a member of a sporting club then you have rights and responsibilities.
How do we define members of NAC? The Anglican church worldwide has always had a very loose definition of membership. If you’re an Anglican you are welcome at any Anglican church. But so is anyone else!

You can take part in our Annual Parish Meeting if you sign the declaration that you are a member of the Anglican Church of Australia, that you are baptised, that you are not less than 18 years old and that you usually attend church here and not somewhere else.

There have been debates in our synod over the decades about defining membership more precisely. So far they have been lost but I think the time is coming when we need to address this question more closely. Obviously there are good arguments for both sides.
But what about here at NAC? Should anyone who simply attends church be allowed a say in what we do? Should we have a clearer definition of membership here at NAC? Should only members be allowed certain rights and responsibilities?
Perhaps a better way to ask the question is, “What am I saying to people when I say I belong to NAC/WHAC?” Is all I’m saying is that I go there sometimes? Am I saying more than that? If so, what am I saying?

NAC is God's church. We might be Anglican and bound by the Acts and Ordinances that govern us as such. But primarily we are God's church. What does the Bible say about being a member of NAC?

We are approaching the end of our series of sermons in 1 Corinthians. Chapters 12-16 actually look at church. So it would be good to ask ourselves what God has to say about being a member of his church as we look at these chapters. He talks about every member of his church and how he has gifted them for service. He talks about true spirituality and how to build up the church and what to do when we meet and how to give money and the significance of the resurrection and the centrality of love.
It’s only a few weeks away so please read through these chapters a few times before we get to them. Ask yourself as you read what God is saying about me and my membership of his church.

Neil Macken

Interview of Mike Sperinck

Rev Writes - Sun 28th Sept

SO... How are you coping with these minor prophets?
One thing is for sure, ‘Minor’ does not mean insignificant or that we can somehow put aside what they are saying. It simply means they are shorter books. Today we’ll look at the prophet Zephaniah.
Zephaniah is a prophecy - a book which spoke to the immediate situation in Judah some 2600 years ago, and it speaks to ours too. It helps us to understand more the depths of the judgment that we deserve - for God is a jealous God – and it helps us to understand the love of God in Christ. For in Christ we have one who rescues us for the coming day of the Lord – the wrath to come as Paul says.
Zephaniah’s prophecies contain judgment against Judah due to their sin - including rebellion, idolatry, indifference and arrogance to God. However, it also includes judgment on the nations for their pride in mocking the people of God 2:4-15. This judgment is depicted as the ‘great day of the Lord’ – which is near. The people are to come together and seek the Lord with humility 2:1ff.

Beyond this judgment, the Lord will gather his people (a remnant –both from Judah and from the nations 3:9,10), and he will dwell with them– he will save/rescue/gather. He will bring them home. 3:16ff.

Here’s a thought. The people of Judah some 80 years before Zephaniah had witnessed the defeat of their Northern ‘cousins’ (Israel) by the Assyrians due to their sin. They had 80 years to contemplate how they should respond to God. 80 years to wake up to the effects of idolatry, indifference, apathy – of trust in wealth. Yet as 2 Kings 17:19 tells us, even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.

How are you going with the minor prophets?
Are we people who are learning and growing?
Are we submitting to the Jesus as Lord?

Does the fact that you are free of the judgment of God because of Christ, so shape you that you joyfully live for Him?

Zephaniah ends with the promise of restoration (3:19ff). Beyond judgment there will be a day when the remnant of God’s people will be pure through judgment – gathered by the Lord- a day when he will bring His people home.

Are you ready for this day? Is your trust in Jesus alone – his death for your sins?
If so 2 Peter 3:9-18 reminds us that we ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God, making every effort to be spotless and blameless and at peace with Him.

God bless,
Col

Is it right to pray for specific things, or is it better to pray for God’s will?

This is a good question. At one level it appears to be more Christian to pray for the will of God to occur (as we see in the Lord’s Prayer). We know God is good and his will is good and it seems to be a safe and faithful prayer to ask for God’s will to be done.

However this is not the pattern of Jesus or the New Testament. The Bibles not only allows but commands that we pray specific requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 4:2 - [ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

And see the prayers of Paul

Romans 15:31 - Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

Ephesians 6:19 - Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Prayer is a blessing of God. In the New Testament it is a blessing given to us by Jesus. We can pray to God our Father because of the work of Jesus. So we pray ‘in Jesus name’ to remind us of this fact. In my view we underestimate this privilege. If you look at John 14:13-14 Jesus says,
3And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The privilege of prayer is foremost. Through the Spirit we can pray requests to God and trust not only God will hear them but he will answer them. Obviously a prayer in contradiction to the Glory of Jesus will be answered no. Moreover, some prayers will only be answered when Jesus returns. However, the power of prayer through Jesus to God the father is amazing.

Does this mean we ignore the will of God? No

Look at how Jesus prays,
Matthew 26:39 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus asks God for something in prayer. It is a real prayer. He wants it. But behind the prayer is a trust in the will of God. That if God’s will differs to what he desired then he would trust himself to God.

This is robust prayer. Pray big prayers to God. Pray asking and expecting God to answer Yes. Pray in faith. Pray in thanks. But pray trusting that God’s will is better if it differs to your prayer.

So the answer to the question is pray specifically and continually. To pray ONLY for the will of God ignores the privilege that Jesus gives his children. We can pray, in Jesus name, through the Holy Spirit to the Father. I wonder if we pray realising this?

Have you read this post by Alexis about 645 church? What do you think? How can we change to be a community that acts and looks like our saviour. Post your thoughts to Facebook or to Alexis herself.

Alexis Cootes (Notre Dame AU) wrote on Sep 10, 2008 at 4:55 PM

One aspect of 645 that I was really looking forward to at the beginning of the year was being in a community of people who loved God and sincerely loved each other.

Over recent weeks I have become angry and frustrated by the way in which people at 645 don’t seek to love each other and serve each other.

Here are a few things to ponder over:

So often our connect group mature leaders are the first to arrive at church and the last to leave week in week out. I think we can learn a lot from the servant, selfless hearts of these people. When 645 leaves all their paper on the floor after church they are there picking it up when we leave. But how often do we talk to the more mature members of 645 after church? They love us by leading us and encouraging us. But do we love them back by talking to them after church and serving them?

I feel that there is a sense loneliness in many 645ers and this is due to the “clicks”. There is always going to be “clicks”. But what would 645 look like if it was a church with no barriers? Where everyone knew and spoke to each other? Where people weren’t selective in who they made conversation with. So often we talk and sit to the people that we are familiar with because it is “comfortable”.

When we get to 645 on a Sunday night we are generally pretty tired and serving feels like such a task. It is hard to share in open discussions with small groups about what was just spoken about in the sermon and so easy to talk about the events of the past weekend. I pray we would be a culture of people who were deeply challenged enough by the word to talk about it.

Another way in which we at 645 can love each other is by looking out for our weaker brother and sister. We live in a “drinking” culture and so often Alcohol can be a stumbling block for our 645 community. Can we be a church who loves each other by not drinking with and in-front of our brothers and sisters who struggle with Alcohol.


Imagine if we built a community that all seeked to love God and love each other. Who were not selective in who they spoke to, would be selfless in the way that they acted, encouraged others to be challenged in God’s Word and went out of their way to serve others.

Church at its best is community. A community of believers who pray for, support, bless and serve each other and then together reach out into their own communities, and show them who Jesus is by their lifestyle and actions.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love...We love because He first loved us. I john 4: 7-8

I will continue to pray that this will be 645 desire for our church and community.

Post #2

Louise James (University of Sydney) wroteon Sep 14, 2008 at 11:40 PM

Thanks for venting some of the thoughts which have also been on my mind lex --
Especially the point about clicks. Church should be a place where we feel comfortable, and most often, yes we do feel most comfortable with the people we know best. But what about those who are not part of a click, or are newcomers to 645? How comfortable do you think they feel when they feel as though they are being shut out. When we stick with our clicks we are not loving those around us.
I'd love to see 645 be a community who loved one another by hanging out and talking with people we don't know all that well at 645. By lovingly giving up our comfortable group of friends to go and experience someone new, we're truely growing our church into a fluid community of brothers and sisters. Think about how much more comfortable a new person would feel walking into a community where we loved each other like this.
Just a note of the clicks effecting newcommers to 645. I'd love our church to be one which welcomes every new person to walk through those doors. This should not just be the job of the welcomers, but of each one of us as we lovingly share ourselves with them and make them feel comfortable in community with us.

Keep praying for our church

Post #3

Richard Whitten (Australia) wroteon Sep 15, 2008 at 5:27 AM

I think the word is cliques. But I do agree. Here's my thoughts/responses to community at 6:45 of late.

Last few months I wasn't really enjoying 6:45 as much as I should have been. I didn't feel like there was much community, I was sick of hearing about 'doing life together' and I was just sitting with the same people every Sunday and hanging out with them after church, or in some cases just going home. Regarding community I felt a great disconnect between the words being spoken on stage at church and the actions of us as a church.

Then I realised what I was doing, and saw that my problem lay partly with me. I prayed, chatted to a few mates about it, and put more effort into actually talking to diverse people and making an effort to do so regularly every Sunday, and at other points on the weekend outside of 6:45.

Unsurprisingly, that was all it took to make things at church feel more real and productive. It's still a slow process, but God is generous. Last Sunday feeling tired and grumpy I decided to hang out at Maccas and had lots of fun and met some new people, and can't wait to do it again next week.

So I totally agree with what Lex and Lou are saying. I felt a great disconnect between the words of 6:45 and its actions as a community. Then I stopped being a dickhead and actually did something about it. God is still working in me on this issue, and I still have doubts and uncertainties and frustrations and often pure laziness when it comes to 6:45, but I'm getting there.

Thanks for bringing this issue up Lex, 6:45 still has a long way to go on this- we are a pretty young congregation after all.

NAC Trivia Night Update

Last Saturday Night was the NAC Trivia Night. Big thanks to all who came, played, laughed and enjoyed the night. The team were able to raise over $5000 for the trip. Thanks so much

www.nac.asn.au/nt

645 Survey

We would love you to chat to 5 friends this week. We want to know what they think and what they do. The Survey (you can download below) is designed to gather information about how 645 can connect with the Young Adults in our community.

if your in High School - try and talk to post school people (older brothers, neighbours, work mates - call it a project!!). If you are over 30, then try and chat to people between 18 and 29.

the form can be emailed to you by contacting ed@nac.asn.au or will be attached to this weeks email.

thanks
Ed (and Michelle)

NAC Trivia Night

This Saturday Night
7 for 7:30pm
BYO drinks and nibbles (supper provided)

All money raised will go to support the Senior High Northern Territory team going to Ngukurr.
See website
www.nac.asn.au/nt

Book a table on 96301234 (tables of 8) or turn up on the night

"New Atheism - Taking it Seriously"

Here is a free training event with Dr John Lennox from Oxford University on the "New Atheism - Taking it Seriously". John is a Mathematican and Christian apologist and has publically debated a number of leading atheists such as Prof Richard Dawkins. John has written a number of books including God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? and Christianity: Opium or Truth? Details on the event can be found in the brochure below. The brochure can also be downloaded from www.gospeloutreach.com.au/resources/JLConference.jpg To register simply send an email to info@publicchristianity.org or call 02 9955 0077.

150 reams of paper info

One of our 645 community projects is to donate 150 reams of paper to MAG by August 9. Some important questions and answers below.

What is MAG? Mission Aid Group (MAG) supports the work of CMS missionaries by supplying goods that are expensive or hard to get. These goods are for the use of Tanzanians in hospitals, schools and training centre's. MAG is a practical way for YOU to share what God has given you, by buying simple, everyday necessities, making things or giving money to help with freight costs.

Why reams of Paper? Paper is in short supply in Tanzania. Churches and schools need paper to teach and resource gospel ministry. We have the opportunity of practically supporting ministry in this simple and cheap way.

What do I do? You can support this project in 3 ways

• OPTION 1: Bring your ream of paper on Sunday nights. Give to an usher who will store it in the conference room. We will count and store the paper each week and let you know
• OPTION 2: Collect reams of paper in your CONNECT GROUPS or in YOUTH BIBLESTUDY GROUPS. Then on Sunday 2nd or 9th bring it all to Church.
• OPTION 3: You can deliever it to the Church office (7 Lombard St during the week)
• OPTION 4: You can donate money to finance the freight cost of getting it to Africa. Put in marked envelope in the giving.

Is there a theology of singleness?

Great questions last Sunday on relationships. One of the really sharp questions that came up on the feedback cards and question time was about singleness. Is there biblical sexuality for singles beyond 'flee sexual immorality'? What does it look like to be a good model of Christian singleness?

As Ed mentioned on Sunday night, we (as the community of 645) need to do a lot more thinking and exploration of this. We need to carefully listen to the Word of God and share our wisdom on this. So there's not a neat tidy answer ready to go on this one. Some thoughts to keep us thinking

1. As a community we need to acknowledge that singleness can be a hidden torment for some people. Feelings of loneliness and isolation can be very powerfully present in people's lives. This is where couples need to make sure they embrace and welcome singles not exclude or avoid because they feel awkward about them. Again couples need to love singles not by trying to match them up with other singles but by being their brother and sister in Christ. 

2. While God has created us for relationship, the Bible doesn't see singleness as a necessary curse. Both Jesus and the apostle Paul lived full rich authentic lives as single men. Paul saw his singleness as a blessing - allowing him to serve Jesus more than he would have with all the responsibilities of family (See 1 Corinthians 7). Older generations will remember the ministry of the evangelist John Chapman and our own Peter Johnston who had massive ministries to others as single men.

3. A wise woman said to me after Sunday that we need to be careful not to think that getting married will be the end of all our problems. Heartache and loneliness can be realities in marriages. Marriages require work and responsibility that singleness doesn't bring. It really is better to be single than suffer in a bad marriage. So we need to spare ourselves the disappointment that comes from thinking 'if i could just find someone, then i'd be happy'. 

4. It occurred to me that there's a real sense that the way we model godly singleness is the way we do it in every part of life. How do you model godly work, parenting, priorities, dating, study etc? By putting Jesus first and serving him in all things. It might sound too neat but this is real. When the pain of singleness is very real it can be tempting to withdraw, get critical of couples and complain 'the church' doesn't do enough for singles. The way of Christian freedom is not to be controlled and dominated by this but to get on serving Jesus. This has 3 real benefits - as you pour your time into serving Jesus; you become a better and better potential husband or wife, you are more likely to meet a great godly partner who'll see that in you, and you find a greater  wholeness and fulfillment as you know Jesus more deeply. It's not neat. It's doesn't mean the longing for a partner ends but you're less defined and dominated by 'being single'. 

There's so much more we need to explore and discuss together but this hopefully gets us thinking. 

James

Is God still intervening in our painful world now?

Last Sunday (July 6th) we continued our series 'Wrestling with God, wrestling with life' with the big topic of 'If Jesus is King, then why all the pain in our world'. As I said on Sunday night it's a raw messy painful topic, well beyond just 1 talk and question time. So it was great to get some follow up questions 'If God felt so much sorrow in his time on earth and healed the sick and raise the dead, why did he have mercy on those ones and not others?'. Some thoughts:

1. Sometimes this question is driven by a fragile assumption. 'I'm a good person, so good things should happen to me...i deserve God's blessing'. In fact, the Bible is very clear that everything we receive from God is a gift not a right. God gives us good things because he is generous not because we deserve it. This stops us from getting pushy with God and demanding that he bless us in everything. If we experience pain and suffering it's not unfair or somehow a sign that God doesn't care about us. 

2. But you may ask, what about God being compassionate (like we saw in Luke 7:11-17) and intervening in our pain. This is the 'problem' that Jesus encountered. As he walk in the world pain and suffering were all around him. He could do so much to help people and yet the need would never end. We see this in Mark's gospel. Have a look at chapter 1. Jesus is introduced as the long awaited messiah promised by Isaiah. He has power over evil (casting out demons) and sickness. The crowds flock to him. By chapter 1 verse 45 (1:45) Jesus can no longer enter a town in the area because of all the crowds of people wanting healing. In 1:38 Jesus says he has come to preach that the kingdom of God has come and not spend all his time healing. Again in the famous incident of the paralysed man lowered through the roof by his friends, Jesus tells them he heals the man to demonstrate that he has authority to forgive sins. As you read on in the gospels Jesus deliberately turns his face not to all the pain around him but to Jerusalem where he goes to die for the sins of the world. 

So (and finally here's the point) the solution to the pain and suffering in this world was not for Jesus to spend his life healing but to die on a cross to defeat sin and death. In doing so he made THE real difference in the world, not just for then and there for Israel in the 1st century but for all eternity and for everyone who puts there trust in him. 

A related question raised on Sunday night was, do we see God intervening in pain and suffering now?

This is a good question, engaging with our experience of pain now. We know the love and power of God so we ask - why not just step in here and there...and here etc. 

We need to understand properly just how sovereign and present in our world God is. We live in a culture that has kept on pushing 'religion' to a little corner that has little to do with our daily life. So we're tempted to think that our world runs along without God like a machine. He might fine tune it every now and then but he's basically sitting back watching. So then only when something dramatic happens (like a healing, or dramatic rescue or a disaster) we think that's the only time we really see God's presence. This leads to, what some writers have called, the 'God of the gaps' - God explains and is only real or present in the things we can't make sense of ourselves. So when we come to suffering we say 'What is God doing, he's not filling in this gap here so he's not doing anything'. But it's here where the Bible brings us back to reality - God is constantly sustaining and caring for this world (Have a look at Psalm 3:5, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 4:11). The fact we wake up in the morning, that life is not chaos, that life is not filled with constant suffering, that this world is not as evil as it could be is God's daily mercy and protection in our lives. Sometimes that's spectacular and unexpected but that shouldn't make us ungrateful or dismissive of God's daily care and protection of us. 

There's some more thoughts to wrestle with.

James

 

www.freerice.com

Poem

“When I said, ‘my foot is slipping’, your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:18-19

One night I looked before me
At the path that lay ahead
The troubles that were coming;
I wished another way instead.
My heart was frail within me,
I could not take a step.
I trusted in my strength alone
And weak, I sat and wept.
Yet as I began to cower
A voice, it called to me
It said ‘Rise, my child, I love you,’
And I said ‘But Lord, I am so weak.’
He said, ‘Child, I am with you,
When you are weak I will be strong.’
I said, ‘O Lord, sustain me,
I am so tempted to do wrong.’
He said, ‘Fear not precious child,
Though hardship may arise
My love will guide and teach you
And I will help you to be wise.’
‘My Lord,’ I said, ‘I’m unworthy,’
‘Take courage, my child, take heart.
I have made you and I will carry you;
And you and I shall never part.’
I said, ‘O Lord, I trust you.’
And I rose and looked ahead
And with the hope of life behind me
I stepped forward with no dread.

Naomi

Question - Amos - Disasters

Can we assume that the current worldly disasters are a direct result of God’s judgment or just because we live in a sinful world?

In short, I think that the disasters we see are both a result of living in a sinful world and God's judgement. In addition, they are meant to point us back to God. What we cannot do is make a call on whether a particular event is one or the other, just as we cannot make a call on whether a particular event is related to a particular sin. We can only know these things if God tells us.

The disasters sent by God and described in Amos 4 were to be seen as warnings of the need to repent and turn back to God because of the judgement to come (we read several times that they did not return to God, vv6,8,9,10,11).

In the NT, Jesus speaks of the disasters that will occur in the end times or last days, that is, the period between his first and second comings. These are signs that we ought to expect the end at any time and so stay awake as well as turn back to God (Mark 13:28-37). This, I take it is what we are experiencing.

We are not in a position to make a direct link between a particular sin and a particular punishment or judgement, that is, we cannot say that this event is God's response to that sin, unless God tells us. In the OT there are many instances of specific judgements as the result of specific sins (eg Assyria's invasion and destruction of Israel). In the NT, the apostle Paul is able to declare that the sickness and death the Corinthians were experiencing was a direct result of their behaviour towards one another (1 Cor 11:30), or God's judgement on Ananias and Sapphira, was also a direct result of their behaviour (Acts 5).

George

Prisioneralert.com

This is a site where you can write a letter to a Christian in prison in a restricted nation. The web site translates the letters into the language that the prisoner can read. As we heard on Sunday giving money is a really practical way we can care for those being persecuted, and i think that this could be another practical way where 645 can encourage our persecuted brothers and sisters. Mel H

Reachout Conference Aug 16

REACHOUT CONFERENCE “TRANSFORMERS-AGENTS OF CHANGE

“Reachout exists in cooperation with mission agencies and Bible colleges, to glorify God and make it easy for young people to explore mission and become involved. ”

When: 15-17 August 2008 Where: Katoomba Christian Convention Centre
Cost:$30.00 (for whole of Saturday) or $50.00(for whole of weekend)

At Reachout we will hear from 2 great speakers, Jason Mandryk ( co-author of Operation World) and Mike Raiter who will talk about God’s plan to Transform the world-and your part to play in it.

There will be opportunities to talk to mission reps from a number of mission agencies, attend seminars as well as time to fellowship with one another through praying, singing and drinking coffee, plus lots more….

A lot of people come to Reachout for the Saturday and I am hoping you will join me on a trip to Katoomba on August 16th. If you have any questions or are interested I can give you a Reachout flyer/postcard.You can also talk to me at church, send me a message through facebook or visit the Reachout website, http://www.reachout.au.com if you are wanting further information. It would be great if you could prayerfully consider coming to Reachout and even sacrifice a sleep in for this one Saturday!

Thanks Yohanna

Joel Question 2 - Israel kept sinning

Why did the Israelites time after time rebel against the Lord and sin? Did they simply not learn from the past or did the younger generations not care?

The people of Israel are in a sense no different to anyone else; for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Sin is the reality for each of us in our fallen world.

In thinking of the Israelites, God had chosen, called and revealed himself to them. Specifically (looking at Exodus 16 ff after their rescue from Egypt where they saw all the power of God at work in the crossing of the red sea), they soon (within days) began to doubt God’s power, plan, provision and presence (Ex 16ff), grumbling against him (Ex 16:2), longing for things as they were (Ex 16:3), refusing to keep the command of the Lord (16:28) and accusing Him of of leaving them (Ex 17:7). They showed a lack of trust in the Lord, and a constant bent to idolatry.

Yet, although, God had done all this, they did not listen. Judges 2:16 ff 16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD's commands.

Psalms 105, 106 summarise the Lord’s faithfulness and the peoples rebellion. Psalm 95 tells us that they had hardened their hearts.

Here are a couple of other thoughts.

1/ These things happened to the people of Israel, that we might lean from them, be warned by them, and take courage in out temptations. 1 Cor 10:11ff 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

2/ these things happened to warn us also not to have hardened hearts towards God (Ps 95:8, Heb 3:7)

Some closing thoughts.

Sin is deceptive – it might even feel good or normal, hence 1 Cor 6:9 ‘do not be deceived’. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit - therefore , honour God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19).

We need to remember that if we do sin, the blood of Jesus washes away every sin.

Finally, we need each other in this Hebrew 2:7-12. (see v 12 below).

7So, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
8do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the desert,
9where your fathers tested and tried me
and for forty years saw what I did.
10That is why I was angry with that generation,
and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.'
11So I declared on oath in my anger,
'They shall never enter my rest.' "
12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Col