Building for Eternity
Scott Goode
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Posts by Scott Goode
Are you an ambitious person?
1 year ago
by Scott Goode
in News
- “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…” Genesis 11
Ambition might be defined as ‘an eager desire for some type of achievement’.
Often when I think of this word, I think about the ambition that a student has to achieve high marks; or the desire of a football team to win the premiership; or the ambition of a person to build a career or business for themselves. While many of these things may be morally neutral, ambition within the heart of sinful humans is normally centred on the desire for self-promotion. Genesis 11:1-4 describes the ambition of humanity to build for themselves ‘…a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…’ If we are honest with ourselves, it is similar ambition which drives too much of our daily living.
Philippians chapter 2 describes Jesus Christ who already had a name for himself – who was ‘in the very nature God’! The ambition of Christ is revealed in the fact that He made himself nothing and became obedient to death – ambition that was characterised by obedience and faith towards the Father.
It is for this reason that God commands us to ‘do nothing out of selfish ambition’ (Phil 2:3). Rather our ambition is to be Christ-like and Christ-promoting! We are to consider others better than ourselves; we are to celebrate the success of others; we are to bear the burdens of others; we are to warn others about disobedience to God; we are to encourage others in faithful service of Christ; we are to live for the glory of God in any and everything we do! Such ambition transforms the seemingly ordinary circumstances of life into opportunities of enormous potential to promote the cause of Christ.
Are you an ambitious person?
Scott Goode,
Assistant Pastor
And the Government is…
1 year ago
by Scott Goode
in News
Australia heads to the voting booths Saturday 21st August to elect the Australian Government
By the time you read this article, the results of the federal election will have been confirmed. Whatever the outcome is, I wonder if it is worth reminding ourselves of what God thinks of governments? In Romans 13:1-7 we read:
- Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. (v1)
- For he [the government] is God’s servant to do you good. (v4)
- He [the government] is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (v4)
This passage informs how we are to live out our Christian faith as faithful subjects of the state and citizens of heaven. As subjects of the state, we are to recognise the authority of earthly governments as established by God himself. Remember that the government which is being referred to in the above passage was that of the Roman emperor – a pagan who saw himself as a god! We should pay our taxes, give due honour to our politicians, and pray for them and their policies. Such governments should defend what is right in this age but should never think they will trump the kingdom to come.
The kingdom to come is what the citizens of heaven truly await. In this Kingdom it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ who is the Prime Minister of prime ministers, President of presidents, King of kings and Lord of all:
…whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Col 1:16)
As Christians we are to point to the future kingdom of Christ, and to the way that this kingdom impacts the present.
Scott Goode,
Assistant Pastor
Encouraging Warnings
1 year ago
by Scott Goode
in News
Without the oarsman (you), who will work at pulling on the oars to propel the boat forward and without a bearing (God) to steer the boat, your boat will drift on current, wind and tide.
This is now the fourth week of our teaching series on the book of Hebrews – a letter that is full of encouraging warnings! There are five passages which warn us to not ‘drift away’ from the Lord and His people. And there are three key ways by which we are to find encouragement to persevere:
- Remember the perfect sacrifice of Christ by which we stand in the presence of the Father without fault or fear.
- Look to the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ who has endured the worst of evil and now reigns victoriously in heaven.
- Live in community with God’s people – giving and receiving encouragement to one another.
There is so much going on in our church family at the moment. Here are some ways which we can be involved and growing together in our faith:
- Invite someone new along to your Growth Group.
- If you are a new Christian join our “Just for Starters” group.
- Invite a friend to an up and coming church event.
- Start our certificate course in theology (PTC).
- Come along to our DAC Camping Getaway.
- Spend time in prayer for those mentioned in the bulletin.
- Donate a meal to our freezer back ministry.
“We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved” Hebrews 10:39
Scott Goode,
Assistant Pastor