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Preparing God’s People for Suffering

June 12, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

The following video will help you to be prepared for suffering; not if it comes, but when it comes. It’s from a Pastor’s conference, Together For the Gospel, and features Matt Chandler, CJ Mahaney and John Piper. Filled with gospel-centred goodness.

Here are some other resources on the subject:

Praying for the World (Cup)

June 10, 2010 in Jesus with 5 Comments

I used to worship soccer. That’s dumb. Worshipping soccer is as foolish as worshipping a scarecrow in a cucumber field. I’ve been getting fairly excited about the 2010 World Cup. Almost too excited! To help keep things in perspective I make it my aim to pray for both countries at half-time of each game I watch. The World Cup is an opportunity to learn about 32 different countries and work out how to best pray for them.

If you’re a Christian. Here’s some ideas for prayer during the World Cup

  1. At half time. Pray for both teams. Don’t pray for one team to win, pray for stuff that matters in the big picture of eternity.
  2. If you’re on twitter use this hashtag #Praying4WorldCup to share what you’re praying and encourage others to pray with you.
  3. Spend some time on Wikipedia learning about the countries
  4. I’m currently preparing a very brief guide with one thing to pray for each team. I’ll post it here when it’s finished. EDIT: It might take a bit long, so maybe not.
  5. If you have Operation World, keep it near the TV
  6. Check out The Joshua Project for stats on unreached people groups in the world.
  7. If you know missionaries or some of the needs in any of the countries, share them in the comments below.
  8. EDIT: New idea – check out the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students website www.ifesworld.org

GROUP A: France | Mexico | South Africa | Uruguay

GROUP B: Argentina | Greece | Nigeria | Korea Republic

GROUP C: England | Algeria | Slovenia | United States

GROUP D: Germany | Australia | Serbia | Ghana

GROUP E: Netherlands | Denmark | Japan | Cameroon

GROUP F: Italy | Paraguay | New Zealand | Slovakia

GROUP G: Brazil | Korea DPR | Côte d’Ivoire | Portugal

GROUP H: Spain | Switzerland | Honduras | Chile

Check out the Latest #Praying4WorldCup tweets:

Never Be Destroyed – Daniel Part 1

June 8, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

Here are the opening two verses of Daniel chapter 1: “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.” (Dan 1:1-2 NIV)

It sounds terrible! God’s holy city, Jerusalem, has been taken over by the Babylonians. They’ve taken all the bling from the temple of God and carried it off to the temple of Babylon’s gods. Where is God? Is he still in control? Does he still rule? Or has he lost his power?

One of the main themes throughout the book of Daniel is that, despite appearances, God is still in control. Human kingdoms come and go throughout the book, but “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” (Dan 2:44).

We’ll meet Daniel and his friends as they seek to live as God’s people in a foreign, sometimes hostile, land. They have some wild adventures with lions, fiery furnaces and some crazily vivid visions & dreams.

The world of Daniel is not unlike our world. As we see the hostility (and even the impressiveness) of the world around us, our belief in God can easily be challenged. My hope is that this blog series on Daniel 1-7 will help teach us to live wisely, while we wait for the return of our King Jesus and his kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Good times in Tamworth

May 29, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

On Friday night I MC’d the Re-generation youth event with Will Graham in Tamworth. Will preached a great sermon urging people to stop going the wrong way and start following Jesus. There were about 600-700 young punks there with 130 praying to become Christian!! So exciting. I had a really good time hanging out with Will and his buddy Jamey Wooten for lunch on Friday. Great guys and really encouraging hearing their stories and being encouraged by their faith in Jesus.

It was likewise good fun hanging out with the 3 bands: Jonnday; Chasing Bailey; and Compliments of Gus. They were all very good. Highly recommended!! (Keep an eye out for some of them in Free Music Friday)

Props to Dave Buster. He’s 18 and doing a gap year with St Peter’s Tamworth. He did an incredible job organising the night. He’s a young punk doing something.

See below the jump for tweets, pics and some video blogs from the trip:

Continue Reading…

The HSC Lockdown 2010

May 27, 2010 in Jesus with 5 Comments

Youthworks, Crusaders and Scripture Union all run great study camps for year 12 students preparing for the HSC. They all include solid, disciplined blocks of study throughout the day, with a bit of time to reflect upon God and life after school. SU haven’t been running them for as long. Theirs are unique in that they are spread throughout Sydney and NSW and they are non-residential (which = way cheaper!).

Check out the website to find the nearest HSC Lockdown. If you’re a Christian student, this could be one of your last opportunities to invite your non-Christian friends along to something. And remember there’s more to life than the HSC!

The most humbling, human-pride smashing message in the world

May 25, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

Josh Harris has posted an excerpt from his book Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters on Humble Orthodoxy (read my previous posts on this subject). In the post he speaks warmly of the way his friend Justin Taylor has embraced humble orthodoxy. If you haven’t heard of humble orthodoxy, it basically means – don’t be an arrogant Christian jerk. I need to hear this, maybe you do too…

Here’s a snippet:

Genuine orthodoxy–the heart of which is the death of God’s son for undeserving sinners–is the most humbling, human-pride smashing message in the world. And if we truly know the gospel of grace it will create in us a heart of humility and grace toward others. Francis Schaeffer, a Christian writer and thinker from the 20th century, modeled this kind of profound compassion. He genuinely loved people. And even as he analyzed and critiqued the culture he did so “with a tear in his eye.”

That is humble orthodoxy. It’s standing for truth with a tear in your eye. Telling your friend living in sexual sin that you love them even as you tell them their sexual preference is disobedient to God. It’s remembering that angry, unkind, opponents of the gospel are human beings created in the image of God who need the same mercy God has shown you.

Read the rest here

RICE REVOLUTION 2010 // New Website

May 24, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

The young visionaries from RICE have just launched the Rice Revolution 2010 website.

These young punks are seeking a Jesus revival in schools throughout Sydney. Sweet!

The Story of Zac Smith

May 23, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

This story is amazing. It’s about a Christian man, Zac Smith, diagnosed with aggressive cancer. I’m encouraged by his willingness to trust God in pain and suffering.

Zac died and went to be with Jesus last Sunday. Pray for his family.

Read about what Jesus has done to wipe Zac’s tears and pain.

Francis Chan on Persecution in India

May 19, 2010 in Jesus with 3 Comments

The following video is horrific. It shows footage of Christians being persecuted in India. If in doubt, don’t watch it, simply remember and pray for brothers and sisters around the world who are killed for their faith in Jesus. Hear the impact it had on Francis Chan:

Watch a longer (and much more horrific) version of this video

Learn more about supporting the persecuted church:

Re-generation Youth Event // Will Graham in Tamworth

May 18, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

Will Graham, evangelist and grandson of Billy Graham, is currently in Australia preaching the good news of Jesus. There are a whole bunch of events being run in North West NSW (Gunnedah, Moree & Tamworth) run by REALITY. I will be the MC of a youth event run in Tamworth Town Hall on Friday 28th May, 630-10pm. Should be fun!

Bands: Chasing Bailey, Compliments of Gus and Jonnday.

Testimony: Steve Davies. Speaker: Will Graham.

In the area? Come along! In the region? Make sure you check out one of the events. Live a billion miles away? Pray that many become Christian. Not yet a Christian? Check out this sweet vid that Will and his posse have knocked together.

Moore College Student Magazine

May 8, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

While on the subject of catechisms, Moore College has just launched its own student contributed and run theological magazine, The Catechist. It’s worth checking out.

Shout out to Stephen McGuiness for pulling everything together. Good job.

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

May 7, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

I’ve been getting jiggy with the Heidelberg Catechism. It’s a list of 129 questions and answers about God that came into circulation in the Reformed church in 1563. It’s a mediation on 3 main things: The Lord’s Prayer; The Ten Commandments; and the Apostles’ Creed. It is gold. Vintage Doctrine. Kevin DeYoung has just released a book that I’m half way through, The Good News We Almost Forgot. It’s great. Bite-sized chapters. Good for those with short attention spans.

Here’s the first 2 q+a’s in the Catechism:

  1. What is your only comfort in life and in death? – That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. he has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him
  2. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort? – Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; seconds, how i am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how i am to thank God for such deliverance.

The other 127 q+a’s then follow this guilt/grace/gratitude structure. Read them all here.

The Jesus Revolution MP3s – MBM Youth Rooty Hill

May 4, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

I recently joined the young punks from MBM Youth in Rooty Hill for The Launch camp. What a great camp! I really enjoyed hanging out with the gangsters from this fantastic youth group. Matt Sparks and his team of leaders are doing a brilliant job as they seek to ‘transform youth through Jesus to the glory of God’.

Here are the MP3s. The aim of this series from Luke’s Gospel was that young punks would be ‘radically changed by the good news of Jesus’. Praise God – there were a few on camp who either became Christian or recommitted their lives to following Jesus.

(right-click to download)

Got questions about Jesus, religion and stuff? You might finds some answers here.

300 – Lives Changed by Jesus

April 26, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

God has continually shown his kindness through the ministry of KYCK. For over 15 years, KCC has run a youth conference keen to challenge teenagers to take the Bible and following Jesus seriously. I’ve posted and tweeted quite a few times over the past 3 weekends about KYCK 2010. This year the convention was attended by 5700 young people. Each Saturday night I gave a talk inviting young punks to follow Jesus.

Over the 3 weekends, over 300 have either become Christian or recommitted themselves to following Jesus! That’s very cool. God is very kind. It’s been super-encouraging to hear stories from many of those changed by Jesus. It’s such a joy to join in the chorus singing praise to God for new life. If you’re a pray-er, pray these new Christians would keep clinging to Jesus. Praise God for his kindness.

Interested in finding out more about Jesus?

Jesus Saves | Jesus Rules | Sweet Short Vid | Q+A | Take it Fervr

Themelios Journal – Something for the older punks

April 22, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

Lots of my posts lately have been written with younger punks in mind (ie Youth Ministry and KYCK posts). If you’re an older smarter punk, I haven’t forgotten you! This one goes out to you. Themelios is An International Journal for Pastors and Students of Theological and Religious Studies. If you kinda fit into either of those categories, check it out.

The latest issue – Volume 35 Issue 1 April 2010 – has just been released. It’s hectic in length – 196 pages. But jam-packed with solid content. My tip for reading? Read the feature articles – that’s manageable. The 1000 book reviews aren’t manageable – so scan them and work out any that grab your attention. I enjoy Don Carson’s editorials and have particularly liked reading Carl Trueman during the past year.

Moore College is also represented. Mark Thompson and Paul Williamson are on the Editorial Board. Paul Barnett and Con Campbell both have book reviews this issue.

4 ways to read it: Online | iPaper | PDF | Osmosis

(h/t Andy Naselli)

CMS Camp MMM – Rego Opens 23 April

April 21, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

I dig CMS (Church Missionary Society). That’s because I dig the preaching of Jesus to all nations. Check them out – they have a pimpin sweet website. Pray. Care. Give. Go.

Dan Anderson and I will be preaching on the upcoming CMS Camp MMM. It’s a camp for High School Students on 5-9 July 2010 in Katoomba. From what I hear, it’s a killer camp. I’m really looking forward to being part of the action! If you want in – rego opens on Friday 23 April @ 7pm. I’m guessing you will be able to register from this page.

Hey Young Punk – Remember Your Creator!!

April 19, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

George Statheos has really been smashing it with the final KYCK talk on Ecclesiastes 12. This verse is a summary of the whole chapter. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” (Ecc 12:1)  Here are 4 reflections:

  1. People are prone to forget – the Bible repeats the refrain to ‘REMEMBER’. Israel forgot God – and worshipped idols instead of God. Because of our sin and forgetfulness, we must keep reminding each other to remember.
  2. Old people are often cranky and bitter – Some old people are beautiful, but some are cranky, bitter, twisted and unwilling to change. If they don’t become a Christian in their youth, they’re less likely to become one in their old age.
  3. Youth Ministry is the bees knees - want to change the world? Work with teenagers. Preach the gospel to them when they’re young. If they remember their Creator in their youth, they’re more likely to remember Him when they’re old.
  4. Are you a young punk reading this? Have you heard stuff about Jesus? Do you actively remember your Creator Jesus? If not. Do it now. Don’t wait until you’ve experienced life. Remember Him, do it now before you get old and cranky.

Find out stuff about God | Learn about how to start following Jesus

Articles, Reviews & Videos for Christian Youth

April 15, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

If you are a young punk or a leader of young punks – you need to check out this website: FERVR.NET. It has fresh content everyday: articles, reviews & videos.

They’ve recently launched a sexy new mobile version of the site and a brand spanking new e-book from Joel Moroney.

clickity click: fervr.net | mobile site | twitter | facebook

Make me more like Mary

April 14, 2010 in Jesus with 5 Comments

During Ed Springer’s first talk at KYCK #1 2010, I was challenged to spend more time listening and less time speaking. “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2) Part of our creatureliness is that we should spend more time listening to our Creator rather than being a motor-mouth.

I normally have good habits in regular personal bible reading. Maybe it was pride, laziness, the devil or a combo, but in the week leading up to KYCK #1, I didn’t take out much time to read the Bible. Challenged by the talk, when I got back to my room, I read the next passage in my reading plan. It was the 2nd half of Luke 10.

Check this out for a timely word to HEAR:

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)

Killed for their faith in Jesus

April 13, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

The following is a snippet from an encouraging and sobering new website: “Thirteen Three is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. Our mission is to empower and mobilise a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ through praying, giving, writing, serving and telling others.”


Thirteen Three is inspired by Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.”

Check it out. Pray.
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