January Preaching Series

At St Faith’s we begun a new 6-part summer preaching series on Christmas Eve/Day. 6 REASONS JESUS CAME DOWN TO EARTH will continue throughout January. Our hope is that it will be a good series to bring non-church going friends and family to hear.

I thought that Christmas was a good time to launch a series rather than inviting people to a new series starting the following week. Hopefully visitors will have heard the series kick-off over Christmas and their interest will have been piqued to continue finding out more reasons why Jesus came down to earth.

It’s been good to leverage the same artwork and signage from Christmas. It means our public banners (one of which was stolen!!) are relevant for 6 weeks instead of just 1 event. However, I think that the artwork is probably a little bit too Christmassy. So if we were to do it again in a year’s time, the advertising could be a bit more generic.

What’s your church preaching on throughout January?
Don’t go to a church? Consider checking one out so you can consider Jesus.
(Contact me if you need help finding one in your area.)

Top 20 Most Clicked Articles from 2011

The following are the most popular 2011 posts according to clicks on dmdc. Clicks doesn’t necessarily equate to quality. But I’ll let you be the judge. Thanks for clicking. Peaceout.

  1. The Egyptian Revolution
  2. Dear Aussie Muslims
  3. Which English Bible?
  4. Pray for Steve Chong. Now!
  5. Lecrae’s New Album – REHAB: THE OVERDOSE
  6. Grow a Goatee for the Cottage
  7. Have you made the switch to the HCSB?
  8. Mars Hill Kids Ministry Vision
  9. The Most Famous Youth Pastor in the World…
  10. The Smartest Youth Pastor in Sydney…
  11. Youth Ministry Papers: Commitment is Counter-Cultural
  12. Harbour Bridge Construction and other Amazing Sydney Photos for FREE!
  13. Michael Collings – Tracksuit Wearing Legend!
  14. The G.O.S.P.E.L.
  15. Clean Water, Dirty Water and the Dash for Cash
  16. Youth Ministry Papers: Disciples Making Disciples
  17. Resolved: Read the Word
  18. Creation Swap – Free Stuff for Church Design
  19. 4 Youth Sermons on ROMANS 8
  20. 4 Rules That Every Young Christian Leader Should Know

To our weakness is no stranger

Perhaps you think or feel that God is distant and doesn’t understand our world and our struggles? Yet in Jesus, we have a God who has walked in human flesh and dwelt among people. The first Christmas reminds us that God has come. As we meet Jesus, we meet God.

Check out this line from my favourite Christmas Carol – O Holy Night“He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger”. Sometimes Christmas isn’t a joyful time for people as they reflect on the brokenness of our world. But Jesus gets it. He has been there. Check out Hebrews 4:14-16

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Christmas morning is an opportunity to hope again in our God who came into our world 2000 years ago. Keep trusting in Jesus. Or find out more. Have a read of this. Find a church.

If you’re on the Northern Beaches come along to one of St Faith’s Christmas services.