Year: 2011

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What can a Census really tell us about Australia, and about ourselves?

It’s a couple of weeks until the next Census in Australia. Sweet. Can’t wait. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has a nifty flash application at the moment called ‘Spotlight’. Check it out. It has lots of interest stats along the way. Here’s the snapshot it spat out for me.

It might be useful for getting a snapshot on your suburb? Good for knowing and loving people in it? Maybe? Either way the Census is important for understanding our mission field. Do you use ABS data much in gaining a profile on your community? If so, how?

(h/t Tim)

ps – maybe the census doesn’t pick this up, but Ministers of Religion work more than 8 hours a day!

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GOD HAS COME // Soulies Teaching Plan

The latest series at SOULIES is called GOD HAS COME. We will be studying the first 3 chapters of John’s Gospel. I thought it might be useful to share some of the strategy in how we are approaching the teaching at SOULIES this term. (Props to creationswap for art)

  • It’s from a gospel – any book of the bible would have been good! But, I’m keen to give a more evangelistic edge to our Friday night talks. The gospels are easy to do that because Jesus is speaking and when he’s not it’s about him.
  • Manageable chunks – rather than 3 chapters at a time we’re looking at approx 1/2 a chapter per week.
  • Junior and Senior Crew are doing the same series – this may not be the pattern forever, however, I’ve been trying to create an identity larger than just the junior group or senior group by themselves. Even if we’re in two locations, the same series helps us to identify with that larger youth community.
  • Soulies Small Groups are studying the same section – this helps to create continuity between Friday night and our Sunday small groups. While I value the principle of having leaders write their own studies, I’m also aware that that’s a big job! So I hope that having the series written will be a good service and model to small group leaders.
  • We are producing the ‘DAILY BIBLE JOURNAL‘ – this is a small booklet that encourages young punks to spend 5 minutes a day in the Bible. It includes: daily reading notes, sermon notes space and Bible study. It seemed to be received well on Friday and Sunday. I’m praying it will help to develop a hunger for the Word among our community.
  • There’s an Online component – I’m keen to use new media to encourage people to dig into the Bible. So each week, we will have a Sunday (no later than Monday) blog post with a video intro for the week’s readings as well as the daily reading notes and a link to an online Bible. I hope that this helps more people to participate.

See this blog post for a copy of the Daily Bible Journey.

See below for the first Bible intro, as well as our bumper vid

Continue reading “GOD HAS COME // Soulies Teaching Plan”

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Shine Music Conference 2011

‘SHINE’ is an annual, non-denominational music conference designed to equip & encourage Christian singers, musicians and technical volunteers.  Pastors will also find the day most valuable. Each year St Paul’s Castle Hill hosts a guest speaker and professional workshop leaders to help build us up in Christ & to develop the gifts that God has given us.

I really like the work that St Paul’s are doing with their music ministry.

Check out their website for more details and for online rego.

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The Rise of the 2nd Wave Prosperity Gospel

Mark Sayers – at his new blog location – has an insightful post comparing the old and new wave prosperity gospel. It’s a development of his ideas from The Vertical Self.

Here’s a snippet:

It offers self actualisation rather than self denial. Social Justice without personal cost. Discipleship without responsibility. It repaints the Christian life as a journey fueled by hype. For young Christian who feel marginalised in a secular society which trades in hip, it replaces Jesus call to take up ones cross, with the lure that you can believe and still be cool. It loves John 1o:10 but ignores Luke 9:23.

Read the rest.

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The Prodigal God – Sermon

Here is my sermon from this past weekend at St Faith’s Narrabeen. I’ve preached on Luke 15 a bunch of times in the last few years. I gave it bit of a rework over the weekend including a new title, The Prodigal God with a longer discussion on the reckless love of God. I think people found the emphasis helpful. If you had a listen and are interested in thinking through some of the ideas a bit further, check out The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.

The Prodigal God – Luke 15:11-32 – Dave Miers [right-click to download etc…]

Also, they’ve said that a few bits were missed in the recording. I recorded a copy as well. I haven’t listened, but if you do, and it feels like something is missing, let me know and I can email a full mp3. But I’m sure you won’t miss much.

If you have a listen and realise that you are distant from God either because of your rebellion or religiosity – let me know and we (or I can find someone near where you live) can chat about how to come back to God. No pressure.

Pic from Saltmotion – used by permission.

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Soulies Underground – Romans 8

Super-encouraging time at SOULIES UNDERGROUND on Friday night. Good turn out. Good vibe. Solid time in Romans 8. Great to pray for Turkey, South Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Sang some quality songs. Simple night. We were aiming to 1) HUNGER for the Word and 2) PRAY for the World. I think both those things happened. Praise God!

The video above is an uncut version of the live web stream. We had no more than 15 viewers at any one time, and perhaps 30-40 different people who watched online. I think it was worth having a go at the live stream. We’ll give it another crack next time!

(If you watch the above video, skip along for 15 minutes or so for it to actually start. We’ll also try to get the mp3s of the talks online this week)