Sermons
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How well do you know God? His character? His heart? Throughout the bible, people have given many names to or for God in response to something He has done. We come to know God best through our experiences when He chooses to reveal Himself to us.
How do we grow up and become like Christ? We become “Like HIM” as we abide and journey throughout life with Christ in the various spheres of our lives. During this series, we’re going to camp ourselves in the book of Ephesians looking at how we live and mature as followers of Jesus in some important environments such as the CHURCH, our FAMILIES, and within the surrounding WORLD in which we work, live and play.
For it’s in these spheres, or these places of interaction, that Christ does His work of helping us to grow up and become “Like HIM” in every area of our lives.
What kind of church is God calling us to be now and into the future?
The Bible, covering thousands of years of history, makes mention of hundreds of people. Entire books of the Bible are dedicated to telling their stories. Some of these are stories of good triumphing over evil, while others are heartrending stories that tell of death and destruction. Some stories are funny; some are poignant; and some just make you shake your head. In January our guest speakers will look at some of these biblical characters and their unique stories to see what we might learn for our lives.
The season of advent directs our attention backwards and forwards. That’s its sole purpose. It reminds us that Jesus, the Son of God, has come and is coming again. During the busyness of this festive season, we remind ourselves of the hope we have in the ARRIVAL of Jesus – our Lord and Saviour.
The book of Jonah is UNEXPECTED in every way. From beginning to end, we’re reminded of the truth that God is slow to anger, merciful and abounding in steadfast love, wanting all people to come to be in relationship with Him. Our God is the same now as He was then. His character and desire for all people to know Him hasn’t changed. How will we respond to His UNEXPECTED call, mercy, and compassion? Will we choose to be a part of His mission, or will we run?
As believers, we live in the tension of the hope that is coming and the reality of the present. We are NOT HOME YET. This tension is summed up in John 17, the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. In His prayer, Jesus has one major concern: it is that the Father should be glorified through the accomplishment of His eternal plan. What does this say to us as we live in the tension of the here and the NOT HOME YET? In the midst of the chaos of this world, Jesus’ one concern (i.e. His Mission) must always be our first priority. What a privilege it is to be included in His mission.
In John 16, the disciples are nervous, scared, and confused that Jesus is leaving, and the world will turn against them. Jesus tells them that no matter what happens next, they are NOT ALONE. The Spirit will guide them, the Father loves them, and Jesus will come back for them. No matter what happens, Jesus has won the battle. We are NOT ALONE, and we can trust Him with what we cannot see.
As Jesus considered what lay in front of Him, He took time on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane to make His disciples aware of what was most important for the uncertain future they were walking into – remaining CONNECTED to Him. While specifically addressed to those first disciples, Jesus’ words have echoed down throughout the ages helping all believers understand how they must relate to Him, to each other and to the world in which they live.
Many of us often find ourselves caught up in the relentless grind of life. Whether you’re a homemaker juggling the demands of young children, a professional facing the unrealistic expectations of dissatisfied people or a student dealing with the deadlines of endless assignments, this daily grind can result in us living weary and exhausted lives. What’s the solution to this common experience facing us all? In this series we will rediscover some important spiritual rhythms that feed our souls, enabling us to live beyond the grind and thrive as followers of Jesus Christ.
Bendigo Baptist Church is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Comission.