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We’re getting our Biblical Theology on at Next Gen this week as we learn from Malachi in Strand 2. Duke and I played this video to our group. It’s a young punk speaking about how Jesus is in every book of the Bible. Pretty cool stuff. Check it:
There’s probably some I’d say differently, but lots of them are really helpful in showing Christ in all the scriptures. What do you think?
Surge Conference 2011, run by RICE, is on in a couple of weeks. It’s a great conference for Christians aged 16 and above to help them think through how they can serve in their local church. They have an emphasis on helping people to find their gifts and how they can be used among the People of God.
Justin Moffatt and Steve Chong will be the main speakers. Jonathan Pratt, Tim Adeney, Greg Clarke, Murray Smith and Dave Miers will each be running electives.
It’s is on 4-6 February. Go check out the website for more info and to register!
See below for the blurb on my elective:
I’ve often had an uneasy feeling when watching large-scale tragic events unfold on television and the internet. Sometimes I’m keen to find out the latest news, the death toll, the extent of the damage. Not because I need to know, not because I will necessarily do anything in response, not because it will fuel my prayer. But often it’s because – in a perverse kind of way – I’m entertained by the unfolding drama. In reality, I do care, I do respond, I do pray – but often I need to switch off the constant coverage to avoid falling into the entertainment trap.
Yesterday, Tim Challies reposted an article that he wrote in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. I think it has a particular relevance to the 24/7 media circus surrounding the tragic floods in Queensland, Australia. Each of the core free-to-air TV stations are jostling for the exclusive interview, they want to be shown to be in the thick of the disaster zone, and they want to be seen to be helping. I don’t think I’m just being cynical.
Challies’ article is written with an intermingling of quotes from Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death (I’ve briefly referenced Postman’s brilliant book before). Postman’s book is all about media in the age of entertainment. I was going to insert an extract, but you’re better off clicking here and reading the whole article.
Am I alone on this one? How do you avoid treating tragedies like entertainment?
Spent some quality time with Duke today getting ready for leading together next week on Next Gen. The set text we’ll be working through in Strand 2 is from Malachi 4:1-6. Verse two has some cool imagery of an exuberant dancing cow: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” (NIV 1984)
Duke showed me the above graphic. It’s from Jim Lepage’s Word Bible Designs project. Captures Malachi 4:2 perfectly! Cool project. Check it.
The illustration I’ve used more than any other with youth and children to illustrate sin is from a 2000 Burger King commercial. It features Queensland (give toward the floods here) Rugby League legend Wally Lewis. I watched it for the first time today for over 10 years. Poetic license means that my retelling of the commercial is a little embellished, maybe more exciting and definitely longer than the original product!
Talk 4 from this series is the most recent time I’ve given it. Basically the red-headed fella in the ad sits next to King Wally Lewis, with a whopper in hand, and declares that Wally isn’t the king, but that he is the king. I compare it to what we have all done in waving our puny little fists at God and declaring that he’s not the king.
The heart of sin is our rebellion against God and attempt to rule our own lives as if he is God. This is dumb, and there’s consequences. If this is all new to you, check out what Jesus has done to deal with your sin and re-establish his rule.
All good illustrations are stolen, so if you like, go ahead! (I think I first stole it from Marty Kemp back on The Real Thing in 2000/2001… haha!)
It’s devastating to watch the floods and the extent of their destruction unfold. As well as the cost of lost lives, there will be a significant financial cost. The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has opened an appeal. Giving is easy. Click here to do it now.
Any money raised will go to Christian organisations/churches on the ground as they seek to provide care and support to those in need.
Give generously. And pray boldly.
Last week I spoke on the Summer Youth Camp of the Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It’s a young denomination and involved in valuable work across both Islands. Lots of fun. Great food. Dedicated leaders. Beautiful weather. I preached on ‘The Jesus Revolution’, a series I’ve done many times, but this time added 3 new talks. The talks went well. I was really encouraged by the young kiwi’s and their hunger to spend time in the Word and God was very kind in the way he worked during the week. During talk 5 there were many who responded to the good news of Jesus, such a joyful night!
Here are the mp3s from the 8 talks (right click to download):
Enjoy.