Building for Eternity
Archive for October, 2009
Never lose sight of the big picture
2 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
A couple of weeks ago the Illawarra Mercury devoted its “Six in the City” column to questioning the effectiveness of the Jesus All About Life Media Campaign. One respondent said that he didn’t know what the Christians were trying to achieve. Little did the respondents and the Mercury realise that the whole point of the campaign was to get the community talking about Jesus. The message of Christ is powerful and active!
Our problem is not when the community disagrees or belittles the message, it is when the good news about Jesus is forgotten, ignored or totally neglected in the public arena.
Paul in Philippians 1 sets “proclaiming Christ ” at the centre of our purpose and priority. Our world spends billions of dollars distracting us from the main reason for our lives on earth. The big picture is that a day is coming when every person will stand before Jesus. Their opinion counts as nothing alongside the opinion of our Lord and Saviour.
In our weakness, there are times we feel like the gospel of Jesus is unsophisticated and embarrassing. Even when Paul was in prison and personally criticised by other Christians, he could see the gospel going forth. Paul never lost sight of the big picture; Jesus is the name above all names! Proclaiming Jesus’ name in this world is the best thing we can do.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
2 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
A cold snap hit on Friday two weeks ago. One result was that a number of regulars at our nursing home ministry were left in their beds to stay warm!
Many of us face circumstances in our life that “freeze” our souls and cause us to want to stay in bed. The apostle Paul was languishing in a prison cell in Rome. He wrote his letter to the Philippians while in goal.
What kept Paul going? What fixed Paul’s soul? His answer was Christ.
It was partnership with the Philippians in the gospel and it was thankful, passionate prayer.
Paul lived and preached Christ whatever the circumstance! He was doing his bit to build God’s kingdom for eternity. We are called to follow in his footsteps.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister