Isaiah

We've started a series on Isaiah in our Growth Group. We are using the Matthias Media resource "Two Cities."

Growing up in church, attending Sunday School, youth group, training conferences and doing MTS, I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of what Isaiah is all about. But since starting this series I've realised that I really have only ever studied about 4 out of the 66 chapter book.

So it's been good reading through Isaiah. It's full of imagery and quotes which are used in the New Testament. It's especially good reading Isaiah in knowledge of it's fulfillment in Jesus as seen in the New Testament.

A while back now I started a Bible reading plan... yeah... I'm not doing that anymore. I'm still reading the Bible every day. Doing ministry is good in helping you to read the Bible daily.

Also fresh off the press - I got accepted into Moore College to do the 4 year BDiv course. Please pray that God would sustain me through the next couple of years.

Issue 8

I have recently sent out another issue of my MTS newsletter via email. If you would like to receive a copy please let me know.

Issue 6

Here is issue 6 of my supporters newsletter. Just click on the link below to view it.

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Genesis 22

I am always astonished when I read Genesis 22. Abraham is 100 years old when his wife Sarah gives birth to his firstborn son, Isaac. Then when Isaac grows up, God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his one and only son.

If I was Abraham would I have done the same? Not only is he your only son, but to make things more awkward, Isaac questions his Dad about the whereabouts of the sacrifice (not knowing that it would be him!). Yet Abraham goes ahead and obeys God, and look at what is said of him:

“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (emphasis mine)

Abraham had a proper fear of God and obeyed God even though it would cost him his only son. Would I have faith in God and obey him like Abraham did?

And because of Abraham's faith he is blessed:

“By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you,

This passage also reminds me of how God offer his son Jesus Christ as an atoning sacrifice for our sins! Jesus also had to trust and obey God to the point of death. And it is through Jesus that we are blessed. Jesus fulfills what is said in Genesis 22:18 -

and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

 God is someone who we can trust and is a God we should fear and obey. Praise God that it is by grace we have been saved through faith. And this not from ourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

CMS Summer School 2012

From the 7-13th January I was in Katoomba for the annual CMS Summer School. I went with a group of 5-9 people (numbers fluctuated during the week) and I had a great time. I thought I'd post some of my personal thoughts of this conference.

CMS Summer School is a unique conference for a number of reasons. Here are the two big reasons that I think make Summer School unique:

1. It caters for people from aged 0 to very elderly. A full children's/teen's program is run whilst the adults hear the talks. This is a huge undertaking and they do it very well. The kids don't miss out on learning about God which I think is very cool. Often at these large Christian conferences, people remark that "this is what heaven will be like." Well I can say with joy that CMS provides that experience to the next level by having people of all nations, races and ages all together at the same time.
2. Every year, around 30 missionaries (plus their kids) come along and give seminars on the realities of mission work. Some of the seminars are specific to their mission location and others are more general like: how to speak to muslims, marriage, social action, etc. Over the 7 days there around 40 seminars and you have to pick only 7 to go to. The benefit of going with a group of people is that you can split up and then tell each other later what you have learned. What I love most about the missionary sessions is that the missionaries are often very honest and real about things they are going through. Not only does this better inform your prayers for them, it also reminded me that they are real people (not super-Christians) who need to rely on and trust in God for everything. 

^{1 Corinthians 1:26} For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, tobring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification andredemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

They also have great Bible teaching. I'm going to be a bit lazy and direct you to the following articles that speak about the content of the talks:
http://sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/a-cracking-inspiration
http://sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/liberating-integration

Now I'm sure you're wondering, "I don't want to be an overseas missionary, so why should I go to a conference run by a mission society?"
Here is my response:
1) It may be true that you are not suited to overseas mission work or may be unable to do it for various reasons, but Summer School is still worth going to. It is a great encouragement to see how God uses his people to spread his word around the world.
2) Being able to meet missionaries face to face and hear from them personally not only encourages you to pray for them but it also helps better inform your prayers for them. We have fellowship in Christ so it is important that we are praying for these people.
3) What things are stopping you from going overseas? Are they possibly ungodly reasons for not going? We are all called to mission wherever we are and whatever situation we're in. It's important to be challenged on our attitude towards cross-cultural mission and to think about what is possible for you to do.

In conclusion: everyone should come to CMS Summer School next year! 5-11 January 2013. Write it in your diary.

2nd day of Bible reading plan

So far I have been enjoying the Bible reading plan that I'm doing for 2012. I like how this plan has 4 readings a day from 4 different parts of the Bible.

One of the parts that I've been reading is 1 Chronicles - it's the book that everyone dreads reading because it's genealogy central. But here are a few things that have struck me so far from Chronicles:

1. Abraham was truly blessed by God with many descendants (all with very interesting names)
2. Families can be very messed up - multiple wives, lack of heirs, flings with slaves, etc.
3. God works through all the messiness of families to bring about his plans - Praise God!!!

Will try and randomly post things about what I'm learning from God's word in 2012.