Our Vision To see whole communities captivated by Jesus Christ and living out his freedom. Our Mission Connecting people to Jesus, building people up in Jesus and releasing people to serve Jesus
LIVING GENEROUSLY Over the next six weeks we are going to be engaged in a focused way, as a church, with what it means to live generously. While there are particular events and ideas that we will be pursuing, the main question is a personal one: In light of what Christ has done for you, how will you live your life generously? The Plan Week Topic for Sermon and Philippians Key Verse/s Activity Starting Sunday: Bible Studies Passage 27/09/2015 1. A life for Christ Philippians 1:12 26 Philippians 1:21 Handout General information 04/10/2015 2. A life of community Philippians 2:1 11 Philippians 2:3 4 11/10/2015 3. A life for a cause Philippians 3:1 14 Philippians 3:13 14 What gifts have I been given? Prayer Walk (after service) Ministry Fair 11:30am 1:30pm 18/10/2015 4. A life of Philippians 4:10 Philippians 4:11 Budgeting Night contentment 20 25/10/2015 5. A life of celebration Philippians 4:1 7 Philippians 4:4 Commitment Sunday: Pledges 1/11/2015 6. A life of consecration Philippians 1:27 30; 3:17 21; 4:8 9 Combined Service: Celebrate as Family
WEEK 1 A LIFE FOR CHRIST KEY VERSE: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 Scripture is a story that climaxes in Christ. Our story, if it is to have enduring purpose, must stay focused on that same conclusion. What s the use? Why bother? The answer is that Jesus Christ has been crucified and He has risen from the dead. You couldn t find a more complete answer. In it you find that you are called, forgiven, adopted into a new family, given gifts, given a mission, given a future. You are given love, and this love is so extreme it will take you all eternity to begin to understand it. i Almighty Father, we thank You for Your Son and for His church in every place throughout the world. May our love for one another grow more and more in accord with the truth of Your Word. May we seek the progress of the gospel here and everywhere, and the comfort of the gospel in our lives by faith, though we may face suffering now. Help Your servants in their afflictions, for we know that even our troubles will work toward the progress of Your good plan. Thank You also for Your grace during the time of our life here in this age. It is Your plan that we would remain here at least until this present moment, and perhaps even beyond this day. May we serve You and love one another as we do the work that You have called us to do. Amen. ii Pray every day that God would use these next six weeks to help us as a church to develop a desire to live generously with each other and in our world.
WEEK 2 A LIFE OF COMMUNITY KEY VERSES: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus Philippians 2:4 5 My self- perception is as accurate as a carnival mirror. If I am going to see myself clearly, I need you to hold the mirror of God s Word in front of me. iii Glorious Lord, we thank You for the wonderful work of Your Son. He humbled Himself and was born as a man, and even died on a cross. He is now exalted high above every name. Make us like Him. May we be willing to give up our ugly pride and our foolish contentiousness, so that we will be like Him in His willingness to be lowly. At just the right time, make us like Your Son even in His exaltation, so that we will become partakers of the glory of resurrection. Send forth ministers of truth everywhere to proclaim the message of Christ. Protect them in the physical and spiritual challenges that they face, and grant to them all things necessary for life and godliness. Amen. iv In our small groups this week we are asking everyone to take a Gifts Test. If you are not in a small group and you would like to do the test let us know on a communication card. After our services this Sunday we are planning to pray for our community by engaging in a Prayer Walk. Details will be available at each service.
WEEK 3 A LIFE FOR A CAUSE KEY VERSES: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13 14 Wherever there is true grace there is a desire for more grace. When Paul said, Don t be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), his aim was to make God- aholics out of all believers. The Spirit is not deadening; He is addicting. v Lord God, we rejoice in You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. We have no confidence in our own flesh. We have no boast in our own obedience. Our gain is not in these things, but in Christ, our Lord! Our righteousness is through faith in Him. We long to know Jesus more and more, and we long for the resurrection from the dead. We belong to You, O God. Move us forward toward the goal of the glory that is before us. Help us to hold to the truth that we profess. Keep us living in the resurrection way by the power of Jesus Christ who gives us all things necessary for life and Godliness. In Jesus name. Amen. The Ministry Fair When and where: Sunday 11 October at St Stephen s Newtown from 11:30am to 1:30pm. The purposes of the ministry fair: 1. Celebrate and affirm serving in our church. 2. Help people find a way to use their gifts in 2016. 3. Invite people to join teams doing ministry together.
WEEK 4 A LIFE OF CONTENTMENT KEY VERSE: I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11 We live in a society that has made an art form out of trying to make us discontented. Our consumer society is supported by a massive advertising arm that tries to persuade us that we will be happier if we have this holiday, this gadget, this product, this health pill. The Apostle Paul is a stark contrast to this because he is content. It is not that he is without ambition, but his ambition is for the cause: the cause of Christ and His kingdom. It is for knowing Jesus powerfully. If he is in the centre of God s will, he is content. This is because for Paul, as we have seen, to live is Christ and to die is gain! Our God and King, take away from our hearts unproductive and vicious thoughts that are out of accord with godliness. Take away our foolish anxieties, and help us to rejoice in You always. Keep our minds on You and on Your great works of creation, providence and redemption. Fill us with peace as we fill our minds with the glorious wonders of Your greatness and beauty. Thank You for those You have given to us as companions and partners in the way of faith and life. We have confidence in You, for You will not abandon us. You will supply our every need, according to the abundance of Your grace for all of Your children. In Jesus name. Amen. vi This week work out you budget for next year and consider what it would look like to live generously. This coming week we will be asking you to pledge how much you intend to give over the next year to the ministry of this church. We are not asking for peoples names but knowing how much we might expect will help us plan. On Monday 19 October from 7.30 to 8.30pm we will be having an In House Night on Budgeting. Amanda and Alyce Gowan will be giving a seminar on household budgeting. You could use this as an opportunity to consider your plans for next year.
WEEK 5 A LIFE OF CELEBRATION KEY VERSE: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Rejoicing and repentance must go together. Repentance without rejoicing will lead to despair. Rejoicing without repentance is shallow and will only provide passing inspiration instead of deep change. Indeed, it is when we rejoice over Jesus s sacrificial love for us most fully that, paradoxically, we are most truly convicted of our sin. When we repent out of fear of consequences, we are not really sorry for the sin, but for ourselves. But when we rejoice over God s sacrificial, suffering love for us seeing what it cost Him to save us from sin we learn to hate the sin for what it is. We see what the sin cost God. What most assures us of God s unconditional love (Jesus s costly death) is what most convicts us of the evil of sin. Fear- based repentance makes us hate ourselves. Joy- based repentance makes us hate the sin. vii Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Jesus, the Saviour, reigns, the God of truth and love; When He had purged our stains He took His seat above; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Pray every day that God continues to develop a desire in us to live generously with each other and with our world.
WEEK 6 A LIFE OF CONSECRATION KEY VERSES: I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now Philippians 1:4b 5 Almighty Father, we thank You for Your Son and for His Church in every place throughout the world. May our love for one another grow more and more in accord with the truth of Your Word. We seek the progress of the gospel here and everywhere, and the comfort of the gospel in our lives by faith, though we may face suffering now. Help Your servants in their afflictions, for we know that even our troubles will work toward the progress of Your good plan. Thank You for the great gain that will come to us when we depart from this world in order to be with Christ. Thank You also for Your grace during the time of our life here in this age. It is Your plan that we would remain here at least until this present moment, and perhaps even beyond this day. May we serve You and love one another as we do the work that You have called us to do. viii Great King and Master, we want to be kind to all. Help us, O Lord. Grant us graciousness and true wisdom, that we might conduct ourselves well in this passing world. Help us to love the brothers and sisters throughout Your Church. We are thankful for the love for You and for Your entire household that You have granted to us. Fill us with Your grace moment by moment, that we might live as followers of our great Redeemer. Amen. i Heart of the Matter: Paul Tripp and Edward T. Welch ii A Book of Prayers: A Prayer for Every Chapter of the Bible: Stephen Magee iii Heart of the Matter: Paul Tripp and Edward T. Welch iv A Book of Prayers: A Prayer for Every Chapter of the Bible: Stephen Magee v Heart of the Matter: Paul Tripp and Edward T. Welch vi A Book of Prayers: A Prayer for Every Chapter of the Bible: Stephen Magee vii Counterfeit Gods: Timothy J. Keller viii A Book of Prayers: A Prayer for Every Chapter of the Bible: Stephen Magee