We can’t wait to gather again to know, apply, and proclaim the gospel in our smaller groups!
Is family/household worship a category for you? I recently came across this article on The Gospel Coalition website: Someone Will Catechize Your Kids in 2021. Don’t Outsource It, and thought that it would be helpful to share more broadly. It is particularly geared to families with kids but the ideas could be transferred to married couples, and even single households.
Note: Catechize means “to teach or instruct” and overtime has come to mean more formally , “to teach/instruct a student in the Christian faith through formalised statement/creed/confessions”. This has often been done through a rigorous memorisation question and answer format (e.g. Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Catechism: Question 1: “What is the chief end of man? Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.)
This may all be very new to you, as it is to me, but for all of church history there has been an emphasis on rigorous education of children and new believers in the faith, and perhaps we are missing a trick by not learning from our forebears. (For some resources: https://reformers.com.au/blogs/reformers-blog/reformers-recommends-a-guide-to-catechisms-for-family-worship)
It begins:
Catechesis is not just an option you can take or leave. Because someone will catechize your children. Maybe it will be your church. But how much time does your child spend there each week? Maybe it will be their school. You know public schools want to shape your children into a certain kind of person. No matter how hard you may try to shield your children, the world will attempt to catechize them. Children’s books teaching the values of expressive individualism will end up in your house, and you won’t even know how they got there. You won’t be able to block out every Disney movie and every top 40 song. Even if you could, you’d probably have an easier time keeping outside air out of your house than thinking your children won’t be catechized by the world.
Someone will catechize your children. So don’t outsource it in 2021.
When you realize your duty to catechize your children, you’ll soon learn the delight of this privilege. The joy doesn’t come in guaranteeing your children will walk in all the ways of the Lord. It comes in knowing you’ve helped to lay a foundation of biblical truth that will support your family’s faith no matter what may come.
Some questions to consider:
1) What type of Christian man or woman do I want my child(ren) to become?
2) Is our current teaching/lifestyle going to achieve that?
3) What might we need to change in our family worship?
“We deeply want a revival of domestic religion. . . . The Christian family was the bulwark of godliness in the days of the Puritans, but in these evil times hundreds of families of so-called Christians have no family worship . . . and no wholesome instruction or discipline. . . . How can we hope to see the kingdom of our Lord advance when his own disciples do not teach his gospel to their own sons and daughters?” —Charles Spurgeon
This Friday, I encourage you to consider fasting from food (if possible) to grow in your hunger for God!
Let’s be tugging on the Lord’s robe and giving Him no rest as we cry out for Revival in our hearts, our homes, our church, and our city!
Use Isaiah 64 as your guide and then come to Mission Prayer Night and break the fast together!
Worship and Prayer Night’s are back this Friday!
7pm @ Sharon and Bijoy's
Dinner = Sharon and Bijoy's Biryani (Let’s break our fast together!)
Address = won’t post it here online but just ask me for it!
On Sunday we had the joy of having Louis Baron preach for us on Isaiah 64
“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—” Isa 64:1
We saw that revival is when God comes down in order to manifest His power; to flex His almighty authority. And it has great effects firstly inside the church for christians (repentance, faith, joy, power) and then to unbelievers in the church (salvation) and then works out to other churches and the area in general!
We seek revival not to get bigger or have an epic experience, but so that God would be glorified and seen as the glorious one that He is! That His enemies would bow the knee, that His followers would truly follow, and that he would be enjoyed!
And so, as we seek revival, how should we pray? Louis gave us 5 exhortations from the passage!
Humble Prayer v.6
Headlock Prayer v.8-12
Hopeful Prayer v.3, 4, 5
Habitual Prayer v.7
Hungry Prayer v.1
It was a great morning! Let’s be crying out to God to revive us and move amongst us in a new and all the more powerful way! It will be messy and confronting…but good!
Every year we partner with ICM (International Care Ministries) to help support their work with the Ultra-Poor in the Philippines. One way we can stay up to date and connected with their ministry is to go to their annual dinner.
It promises to be a great night with a fun auction and heart warming stories. It is an opportunity to hear how ICM innovated, adapted, and continued to help those in ultra-poverty throughout the past year.
Arbie and Lavinia Magno will be going along and are organising a table with our sister church at Wahroonga! Please contact Arbie to book a table!
You can watch a video of their recent work here: https://vimeo.com/527176258
When: 4th of June
Time: 7:00 PM till late
Where: Aqua Luna Waterfront Dining
Cost: $120 pp or $960 for a table of 8
Dress Code: Cocktail & Business attire
This Sunday, we will be welcoming in Louis Baron to serve us from the pulpit. Louis is a friend of mine, a passionate follower of Jesus, loves His people, and constantly stirs my affections for the Lord!
To watch the latest SG Mission Video head here: https://vimeo.com/528945215
It tells the story of Sovereign Grace Church Prattville Alabama, led by Pastor Matt Turner! What a joy to see this church, which started as a small house church, grow in maturity, and in fellowship with Sovereign Grace
What an incredible weekend we had worshipping our crucified and risen saviour! I want to send a big thank you to everyone involved, basically the whole church in one way or another! You all helped make the services joy-filled, God honouring, powerful, beautiful, ordered, and fun!
In particular:
Henry for leading the worship and the bands, singing a massive 14 songs + dressing up as a super hero!
Richard and the Events Team for organising all the creative, tasty, and fun elements for our services.
Shinoo for co-ordinating us to go out into our city and reach out with letterbox drops and walk up invites.
Abigail for the awesome kids choir!
Emma, Daven and Arbie for all you guys did across PA, set up/pack-down and stewarding! Thank you!
Stay tuned for the photos to be uploaded on Facebook!
Life Groups will take a break over the School holidays…but fellowship doesn’t have to! It may be good time to invite some people over for dinner to get to know them better or organise a fun catch up.
Life Groups will resume 21/22nd April!