Is truth dead or is it just a lie?
It all started in the Garden. Satan lied to Eve, Eve lied to Adam blaming Satan and Adam lied blaming Eve. Collectively they all blamed God.
When the Ten Commandments came, acting and telling the truth was enshrined in statute: Truth towards God, self, family and community. It sounds so simple but as a result of the Fall in Genesis 3 it has been a constant struggle none can escape.
Truth is now fluid; just make it up as you go. Forget God make your own rules and should you be exposed blame anyone but yourself.
Life is viewed as being what you can get away and with and who cares anyway? God does and so should we!!!
Politics provides abundant examples of truth lost. Consider our Courts and the chilling words often heard from the Bench: “The evidence of this witness was found to be unreliable” which is code for full of lies.
A US 2020 Presidential hopeful has been caught lying. What has the reaction been? Not condemnation but “such is life and that is just the way he operates.” Another contender lied in documentation and yet remains among the top candidates for 2020.
What about us? We are sinners saved by Grace; however our starting point must be truth not deception.
The Ninth Commandment reads “ You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” Exodus 20. Your neighbour is anyone you have dealings with; self, family, friends and foes.
Is truth alive for you?
– Geoff Kyngdon
Coming up this Sunday 15th September 2019
This Sunday at our 10am service Ken Coleman will continue our morning series in the Gospel of John, with the next talk titled ‘God’s Shocking Love’, with the bible readings Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21.
And then at our 5pm service we have Andy Peters continuing our evening series on the New Testament book of Hebrews. The sermon topic is ‘Know Your Identity’, with the bible readings Deuteronomy 7:1-9 and Hebrews 3:1-6.
It’s also the right time for us to recognise many of the needs of our missionaries, so we’ll have a special report about what’s been happening in the lives of our partners in global, word ministry.
So, please come and join us at either 10am or 5pm. Or if you can’t make it in person, jump online to www.oakflats.tv and watch our live stream.
See you at 10am or 5pm this Sunday, God willing!
The two certainties in life
A few years ago, an advertisement aired on television about the two certainties in life: death and taxes.
The commentator went on to say he could not do much about death, so the most important thing he should do was take control of his taxes. We may pay different tax rates, but death is the great leveller. Rich and poor, powerful and weak…..all die!
What a joy to know Jesus is the answer to death…and provides us with practical instruction on taxes as well!
Life and death was the crucial topic for Jesus and His word could not be clearer: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die…..” (John 11:25-26)
Similarly, the writer to the Hebrews says of Jesus: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Only through Jesus’ death and resurrection is our death done to death! (1Corinthians 15:55-57)
Contrary to our world, Jesus sees money as less important. When questioned by the Pharisees about the legality of paying taxes to the Roman emperor, Jesus replied: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17)
Jesus paid the correct amount of tax Himself (Matthew 17:24-27), and Paul insists His followers do the same (Romans 13:5-6).
Being alive in Christ should also mean we are all squared up with the ATO!
– Phil Pratt
Coming up this Sunday 8th September 2019
This Sunday at our 10am service Ken Coleman will continue our morning series in the Gospel of John, with the next talk titled ‘Nicodemus – A Genuine Seeker?’, with the bible readings Psalm 139 and John 3:1-15.
And then at our 5pm service we have Ken who will continue our evening series on the New Testament book of Hebrews. The sermon topic is ‘Bringing Many Sons to Glory’, with the bible readings Psalm 2:1-9 and Hebrews 2:10-18.
We will be sharing in the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, so be sure to join us for this important reminder of the death of Jesus.
So, please come and join us at either 10am or 5pm. Or if you can’t make it in person, jump online to www.oakflats.tv and watch our live stream.
See you at 10am or 5pm this Sunday, God willing!
More than a meal
I have been involved with youth ministry for the last 14 years in one way or another and threading through the conversations I’ve had with teens is one overriding need—to belong to something bigger than themselves.
Teenagers have a hard time expressing what they really need, beyond their surface pursuits. However, when you study their behaviour, their longing is obvious.
All of us have a powerful and innate longing to belong.
We’re hard-wired to find our identity in close relationships, because we’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Because of this, it’s natural that people have a longing to belong in every aspect of their life.
When the need to belong is not met, problems occur such as loneliness, insecurity, isolation and rejection.
As Christians, we’ve been charged by God to reflect the “radical hospitality” of God’s family, and to welcome the “harassed and helpless” (Matthew 9:36) into a community that values them.
This year at our youth group, Refuge, we have been intentional about creating the opportunity for youth to belong to our church community – by offering a simple meal that we enjoy together each week.
Food seems to be a love language for most teenagers. Some of the best relational times I have with young people are while sharing a meal.
We do bring to these young people so much more than a meal each week – we offer them a safe ‘Refuge’ from the world, where they are free to discover who Jesus really is.
Please pray for Daniel Rainey and myself as we meet with the youth each Friday night, and pray that they will come to know and love Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
– Valerie O’Regan