Category: Jesus

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CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF GOD’S GRACE

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At the end of October, City on a Hill celebrated its 7th birthday. His Story Our Story was a massive encouragement to see the many evidences of God’s grace over the last 7 years. We sang songs, we prayed, the kids performed Oh How I Need You, our plans to plant a Church in Brisbane were announced, Guy Mason preached a cracking sermon on The Great Commission, and 17 people were baptised.

In the last 12 months City on a Hill: Geelong and City on a Hill: West have been planted. This meant that His Story Our Story was the first gathering of Melbourne, Geelong and West all together in the one location. I love being part of what God is doing in and through City on a Hill and, by God’s grace, look forward to what he will continue to do in the future!

Below are two of the videos shown during the event at Melbourne Town Hall. The first is a short documentary style film looking back and looking forward. The second gives a glimpse into the lives of some of the people who were baptised on the day.

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GOOD NEWS: THE BIBLE APP NOW HAS 1000+ TRANSLATIONS IN 700+ LANGUAGES!!

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This is good news, right? The info graph below gives some of the history of Bible translation. Haven’t read the Bible before? Go check out www.bible.com to read online or download the app. Need some help reading? Check out my Mark’s Gospel reading guide and these 3 posts about who Jesus is, why he came and what it means to follow him.

The full info graph is below:
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JESUS BRINGS SALVATION & JUDGEMENT

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Who is Jesus? If you were to ask that question on your street or your facebook page, you may receive a great variety of answers. How would the locals in Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth, have answered it? I’m sure many would have respected him, others knew he was a good man, still others would consider him to still be Mary and Joe’s boy – working as a carpenter.

But how does Jesus answer that question? “Who is Jesus” according to Jesus? In Luke 4, Jesus returns home and reveals from the Old Testament who he understands himself to be.

The sermon below explores what Jesus says in Luke 4:14-30.
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BRINGING HOPE IN IRAQ // UPDATE FROM OPEN DOORS #WeAreN

On 10 June 2014, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS – now known as Islamic State) seize Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul.

An estimated half a million residents join a mass exodus out of the city, many heading east to Qaraqosh or north to places like Dohuk and Erbil.

For more than 30 years, Open Doors has supported Christians in the Middle East – including 20 years in Iraq.

Take a look around one of the churches Open Doors supports in Erbil, Iraq and see what life is like for those taking refuge at the church.

For more information about Open Doors and how you can pray for the situation in the Middle East visit www.opendoors.org.au

Find out more about Father Douglas and the work Open Doors is doing in the Middle East, visit our blog: http://opendoorsblog.org.au/2014/09/26/bringing-hope-in-iraq/

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WHAT IS IT TO BE HUMAN?

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Social networks are a significant part of life in the our world: Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Snapchat; MySpace; Google Plus; LinkedIn. And whatever comes next! However, social networks are not a new invention. A group of men that have swum in the same location at the same beach for the last 40 years who have no interest in digital networks, are still part of a social network.

Social networks show us that we have a deep desire for connection, community and relationship. It shows we are human.

What is it to be human? Relationship is important. It really matters.

What does the Bible say about relationship?

Listen to sermon below…

Here is the structure:

We have a deep desire for relationship
1) MADE FOR RELATIONSHIP
2) BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
3) RECONCILED RELATIONSHIP
4) PERFECTED RELATIONSHIP
Life Under God

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HOPE BEYOND CURE: BOOK REVIEW // GUEST POST BY ADAM SCOTT (@ADAMNSCOTT)

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I recently noticed my friend, Adam Scott, share online that he had just finished reading a book for the second time. The book? ‘Hope Beyond Cure’ by Dave McDonald. Knowing some of Adam’s story I asked him if he’d be willing to share how this book has impacted him in particular. Ads is one of the ministers at St Mark’s Pennant Hills (Sydney).

“It’s actually very serious.”

That was the last thing I wanted to hear from the doctors treating me.

An MRI had apparently revealed a large arterial tear in my neck & the consensus was that I’d probably had a stroke.  It all started feeling very serious.  I was 28 years old, laying in a hospital bed, surrounded by pensioners who were apparently healthier than I was – go figure!

It was the first time in my life that someone spoke candidly & clinically with me about the reality of dying and it was terrifying. I’d always expected dying to be a future, far-off, unfortunate but inevitable reality, but someone with more authority on the subject was telling me that perhaps my presumptions were wrong.

That’s probably why I’ve appreciated reading ‘Hope Beyond Cure’ by David McDonald as much as I have. It’s a book written by a pastor who was humble enough to admit that facing death can be terrifying & perhaps our presumptions are wrong.

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