Because of the gospel imperative to keep proclaiming Christ to the world. We want to swamp Australia with healthy, energetic, theologically grounded churches that can turn our county upside down by reaching thousands more for Christ.
What’s the aim of GENEVA? What’s the idea behind the name GENEVA?
The aim of Geneva is to be a servant to the denominations and networks. It isn’t interested in being anything in itself. We want to be a tool that others use. The power of pooling our resources across the various denominations and networks from around the country is that we can do much more than we could do separately.
We were shaken this morning by the news of a 27-year-old woman, 32-year-old man and their five-month-old baby who were killed last night when a truck crashed into their car on the F3 Freeway (read more @ ABC News + SMH) We are the same age as the parents. Samuel is just a little younger than the baby. We spend a lot of time travelling on the F3 Freeway. We often travel at that time of night. That could have been us.
We mourn for this family and pray that God would bring comfort to their extended family. If my family were killed on the F3 last night, because Jesus rose again, I’m confident that we would go and be with Jesus. However, while we have no fear in death, a tragic accident like this is a reminder that life is short. We could be taken at any time.
MattChandler shared the other night that each year he goes to a cemetery and finds the grave of someone who had died at the same age as his current age. He then reflects upon his own life and the reality that this year could be his last year on earth, and resolves to not waste it.
Here’s what I’m praying today:
For non-Christian readers/friends: You will die one day. On that day you will face judgement from God. The bad news is that you will be judged guilty for failing to honour and obey God with your life. Your only hope is Jesus. I’m praying that you will start to trust in Jesus as your Saviour and start living him with as your Lord. (Click those two links and then contact me if you want to talk further)
For Christian readers/friends: You will also die. On that day you will face judgement from God. The good news is that you will be judged innocent, not because you are, but because Jesus has already taken away your sin and given you his innocent standing before God. I’m praying that you (and I) wouldn’t waste the short time we’ve got in this life. Keep trusting and preaching Jesus.
I love these crazy cats. It’s our Moore College first year group (plus a husband, two wives, a fiancée and an increasing brood of children) from 2008. It’s 2009 and yes we still like each other. Maybe even love?? It’s at least a strong like!
Moore College is often caricatured as a cookie-cutting machine that produces identical looking graduates. Not true! No-one in this group is training to become an Anglican Pastor in Sydney. One family are from New Zealand and planning on returning next year. Two families are thinking about planting independent evangelical churches outside of Sydney. Two more are planning on working in the Anglican Church in the Armidale region. Another is hoping to work in German-speaking Europe. Some are studying for one year, three years and four years. One thing in common? We strongly like each other. AND love Jesus. Don’t know Jesus? Check him.
Jonathan Edwards wrote a killer book 200+ years ago, The Religious Affections (read it for free). John Piper has unashamedly modelled his life, ministry and passion for Jesus upon Edwards’ thesis of the place of the affections in the Christian life. Check out DesiringGod.org (search results for Edwards) for a truckload of Piper/Edwards gear.
All people have affections. We’re all moved by stuff. The following quote is about Jesus – and how he is most worthy of our affections:
If we ought ever to exercise our affections at all, and if the Creator has not unwisely constituted the human nature in making these principles a part of it, when they are vain and useless; then they ought to be exercised about those objects which are most worthy of them. But is there anything which Christians can find in heaven or earth, so worthy to be the objects of their admiration and love, their earnest and longing desires, their hope, and their rejoicing, and their fervent zeal, as those things that are held forth to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Eugene Hor introduced me to TokBox at the Fervr.net launch back in May. It’s kinda like Skype, but better. It’s for video conference, video emailing, and a whole bunch of other things. I haven’t used it much yet, but it looks like a useful tool. You on it? Let’s tok…
Here’s all the haps on dmdc in the past week or so.
we do our bit to bring back the 90s. sam mak, the one and only sam mak, was our special guest. he wants you to do your bit and go along to rice rally this saturday. tix
Check out this video about social media. It’s aim is to show that “Social Media isn’t a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate.” Fascinating stuff.
They source Socialnomics for all the stats. My favourite quote: “Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the Web” – this is a good thing… I think.
Rowan Hilsden will be finishing at Moore College at the end of this year. In 2010 Rowan, his wife Sarah and their family will be moving to Auckland to plant an evangelical church. This is exciting stuff!! Check out their website for info on how you can partner with them in this venture… whether you’re in Auckland or not. Here’s a snippet from their site:
[...] Auckland is a city in dire need for biblically based teaching which is theologically grounded, focused on Jesus and seeking growth. [...] We would love to get in contact with anyone in Auckland: Who wants to see Auckland impacted by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of the historical Jesus; Who is thirsting for good teaching that leads to maturity in Christ; Who has not yet experienced the wonder of knowing Christ.
Church planting is so hot right now! Good. Below is a letter from Andrew Heard and Al Stewart with further information about the new Geneva Church Planting Network.
There is much happening at the moment in the world of church planting. It is exciting stuff! In all of this a number of people have asked for clarification regarding the new church planting network called Geneva. People have wondered what it will be doing and what it might offer.
Geneva will be run by a board of Australian church planters which will include Al Stewart, Andrew Heard and Mikey Lynch. Its purpose will be to help reformed/evangelical networks and denominations recruit, assess, train, coach and mentor church planters for placement back into their various networks and denominations. The passion of Geneva is to establish not just culturally relevant growing church plants but ones that are grounded deeply in reformed theology and so able to be kept from simple pragmatism and fads. This core value is critical for establishing churches that are best able to pass on a vibrant gospel to future generations.
Well-known Christian apologist and all-round smart dude, Dr James White, will be speaking in Sydney and Brisbane over the upcoming week. “James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the author of more than twenty books, a professor, an accomplished debater, and an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church.”
Trevor Hodge has been writing praise and worship songs for over 10 years. In the past 12 months, I’ve been to a number of events where Trev has led the congregation in singing, ranging from 20 people to 400 people. In both contexts he’s effective in taking the spotlight off himself and directing it toward Jesus through uplifting songs.
Bring You Praise is a fantastic album that also directs the listener toward Jesus. The album achieves something that many others in this genre fail to achieve: emotional AND theological engagement. That is; lots of albums are brilliant musically, but lack theological richness; while other albums are theologically rich, but lack in their ability to engage emotionally.
One of the striking features of Bring You Praise is the centrality of the gospel throughout the album from beginning to end. The death, resurrection and return of Jesus are themes that are returned to again and again.
I’ve learnt that it’s always good to quote and interact with John Calvin at Moore College… especially during the year of his 500th birthday! We’ve got an assignment due next week on this chunk of 1 Corinthians. Check out what Calvin’s got to say on vv 6-7:
Most scripture teachers and youth pastors that I know are pressed for time and are limited in their capacity to produce quality resources. Qurious have just released a useful tool for using in high school scripture classes and seminars. It’s well produced and one of the great strengths of this package is its flexibility.
Season 5 of the A-League kicked off last night. The Central Coast Mariners upset the defending champs Melbourne Victory 2-0. Here are the highlights:
There are two new teams this season, Gold Coast + North Queensland, which makes for a longer season. Bring it. Here’s my tip: Mariners won’t leave top of the table all season – and then will beat Gold Coast in the GF @ the end of the season…
This is BIG news!! RICE have just launched their church planting arm. I’ve chatted briefly with Steve Chong and Eugene Hor and they have some exciting plans.
Welcome back to ‘Goodbye Hello‘ for another month… Our internet has been down for a bit – so posting has been a bit more sporadic during July. We’re currently getting new internet etc, so all those who are waiting on the edge of their key board for fresh content won’t have to wait much longer. Here’s the smashing magazine desktop calendar I’ve chosen for August:
