Surf breaks. Egg and Bacon rolls. Beach walks. Bush walks. Lake walks. Playgrounds. Sunshine. Sunsets. Coffee. Sporting fields. Shopping centres. Standup paddle boarding. Manly Sea Eagles. Panoramic views. Restaurants. Retirement villages. There is so much to LOVE about the Northern Beaches of Sydney!! During January 2013, St Faith’s Arvo Church we will be considering how to LOVE THE BEACHES. It is good to enjoy the many great things about living in this place. However, the big idea is that the BEST way to love the beaches is to point them to Jesus’ love.
The love of Jesus is news that our whole world needs to hear. That’s why we send missionaries across the world, but we also need to send them across the street. And so the subtitle of this series could be called “LOCAL MISSIONARIES”.
PART 1 // LOCAL MISSIONARIES LOVE THE CREATOR
The Northern Beaches is a place where many love the creation without acknowledging the Creator. Romans 1 shows the seriousness of ingratitude and thanklessness.
According to Romans 1:18-20 God has made himself known through what he has made. That is, when you stand on Edgecliffe Boulevarde Collaroy Plateau and enjoy the panoramic views, you are supposed to see the handiwork of the creator.
But according to Romans 1:21-25, people fail to glorify and thank God (v21) they worship the creation rather than the creator (v25).
All people are are guilty of idolatry, i.e. turning good things into god things. But it’s pretty obvious in such a beautiful place like the Northern Beaches where the location is central to our identity. Our community LOVE: the lifestyle; the creation; enjoying God’s good gifts. But so often they fail to to thank God for it.
Our community may not claim to be religious, but the reality is that everyone worships someone or something. If it’s not the Creator it’s created things.
Continue reading “WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT CREATION”