Building for Eternity
Archive for August, 2008
Victory Over Sin
3 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
Most people go along with the idea that “No-one is perfect”. The average aussie also believes that, “I’m not too bad”. Those two catch phrases seem to be enough to ease the conscience and therefore deal with the “sin” in our lives.
How far is this away from God’s view of sin? Today we discuss the account of Achan. His sin was simple; he saw things he shouldn’t have, he wanted things he shouldn’t have, he took things he shouldn’t have and then he hid these things he now shouldn’t have. The consequences of his actions affected the whole Israelite community.
God judged Achan and his family and they faced the punishment for their sin. Each of us sin just as easily as Achan. We face the same judgement.
The great news for us, is that Jesus was the one taken outside of the community and executed. He faced our consequences. The only man who was “perfect” and “not bad” (at all) has dealt with our sin and cleared our conscience.
That is the true victory over sin!
Stephen Semenchuk
Bulletin 31st August, 2008
3 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in Bulletin
Bulletin 31/08/08 (pdf, 1.9 MB)
“I only stand by the grace of God”
3 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
Usually when a person wins their first golf tournament they thank their Coach, their parents, their caddy, the crowd, the greenkeeper and their sponsors. This week a 26 year old Australian won her first golf tournament, the Canadian Open. Katherine Hull was standing on the platform and as she received the trophy she said, “I only stand here today by the grace of God”.
Later in an interview she was asked how she maintained her composure during the final round. After all, in her playing group was the world number 1 player. She answered that while the world number 1 was a fierce competitor, they had also been in the same Bible Study Group for 3 years; “I actually felt relaxed in her company”. Each of us only stand by the grace of God. We need to seize the opportunities God gives us, just like Katherine Hull.
Stephen Semenchuk