I have been hearing for some months that the youth at EBC have been growing spiritually and responding well to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This has been increasingly evident in our evening services as different ones respond to the messages and God’s call on their lives. Last Sunday night was no exception when a number of young people responded to the message as the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts. I was so encouraged to speak to one person after another about what God was saying to them and how they had “heard from God through the message” in dealing with an issue in their life, making a decision or submitting to His leading in some way.

Upon reflection I believe the message I preached was fairly straight forward, challenging, but no amazing new revelation. What appeared to be evident was the Holy Spirit targeting individual hearts with the conviction of the Word of God and secondly the responsiveness and openness of individual hearts to the message. This affirms for me something I have often reflected upon but have recognised we often do not place nearly enough emphasis on, that is the attitude and response of our hearts to the preaching of the Word.

Let me explain it this way, if a gardener plants some seed in hard, infertile Adelaide clay the seed is hardly likely to respond very well. If the seed does germinate it will not grow into a healthy, vibrant plant because of the lack of nutrients in the soil. That plant will remain weak and susceptible to disease and will be unlikely to bear much if any fruit. If those same seeds were instead planted in friable, fertile soil that was rich in compost and nutrients they would readily germinate into healthy strong plants that in turn would bear much fruit. An experienced gardener is not likely to blame the seed for its lack of germination or inability to produce healthy plants rather he or she will know the problem is not with the seed but the soil.

So it is in the Christian life. All too often when we struggle to understand the Word of God, or we struggle to become healthy, fruitful Christians, we look to the wrong things. Much of our conversation is centred on the preacher and how well he delivered the message, how effectively he communicated the truth, how long he spoke, or how creative the message was. Did you ever notice that you will rarely, if ever hear someone honestly say, “I didn’t listen to that message very well”, “I allowed myself to be too easily distracted”, or “my attitude wasn’t right today”? Or how about even more frank and honest admission, “I’m just not willing to respond openly or transparently to the Word of God or the Holy Spirit,” or “I’m not really interested in the Bible or what God says.”

As Christians we can subtly and sub-consciously develop skills at deflecting responsibility away from ourselves and onto others. So instead of assessing our own heart attitude we subtly assess the performance of others so that the attention is not on us, and our response to God. When speaking with a non-believer recently he told me he’d never want to attend a church because there are too many judgmental people, I had to be honest and agree with him.

Today our young people at EBC are stepping up to the plate, they are honestly and openly listening to the Holy Spirit as the Word of God is preached and they are allowing God to change their lives. The future is bright for any church that has such a healthy response by its people to the Word of God. I for one want to learn from this and follow the example of our young people by being sensitive to what God is saying: both to me personally, and to the church corporately. Praise God that He speaks through the mouths of children and babes. How about you… Are you listening?

I’ve just started to memorise the book of Romans; and there in the very first chapter Paul writes ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel’.  At first reading, this seems like an odd choice of words...  For example, can you imagine the response you’d get if you turned to your spouse and said ‘I’m not ashamed to be married to you!’,  or perhaps you said to a friend ‘I’m really not ashamed to be your friend’…  It doesn’t have the most positive connotation! (and I don’t recommend testing this out if you have slow reflexes!)

So, why does Paul use this phrase at the beginning of his letter to the Roman church?  Why doesn’t he say something with a more positive inclination like “I’m proud of the gospel”, or “I love the gospel!”…  Perhaps this is because he felt that the readers of this letter were in some regards ashamed of the gospel! (perhaps not ideologically, but in practical terms.. the way they lived their lives)

Have you ever been in a situation like I’ve been in many times - when you’re talking with someone in a public place, and the conversation turns to what God’s doing in your lives… suddenly the voices get softer… eyes dash around the room to see if anyone’s looking your way… it’s now more of an undercover covert meeting than 2 ambassadors having a cuppa!

In recent months there has been some great momentum building amongst the youth of EBC – with many coming to know Jesus and starting a life of discipleship, many being baptised, and still more pursuing spiritual maturity in Christ in increasing measure.  The outworking of this is that we have young people living boldly for Jesus… inviting friends to church… preaching the gospel… discipling and being discipled.

Not only is this happening on a personal level among our young people, but also in the greater youth ministry context – Schools outreach is bearing incredible fruit (ie. Next week we’re expecting over 150 new unchurched school students at our youth program), youth are being mentored, and if you love passionate worship, come and join us for a youth service one Friday night!

These young people are increasingly not ashamed of the gospel! Or, to put it another way, they’re increasingly in love with Jesus, and wanting to know Him better, be more like Him, and lead others to Him!

Remember the words of Jesus, “everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32)

So the question for us is, even if we know and love the gospel (and the God of that gospel!) are we living our lives in a way that is practically ashamed of the gospel?  Let’s examine ourselves, then boldly live out our faith!  For as Paul goes on to say in Romans 1 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”

Don

I believe Pastoral Care to be the broadest philosophy of ministry to target in a Church because it is included across so many aspects of Church life. This broad scope of PC has two consequences (1) making it difficult to assess health and fruitfulness, (2) making it easy to criticize.

Let me begin to explain…

Young Families, Young Adults, Married Couples without kids, Single Parents, Widows / Widowers, Divorcees, Youth, Families with teens, Parents who are Carers, Empty Nesters, Retirees, Mature Aged, Shut ins, Individuals in Care Facilities (& I’m sure to have missed some) are all an example of the various age groups and cultures a healthy Church is ministering to. There are generational cultures from Boomers through to Post-Modernity; racial cultures from Asian, European, Refugees and Third World; geographical cultures from city metropolitan, suburban and country; intellectual cultures; workplace cultures from intense managerial to labor intensive – Phew! Just writing them down and thinking them through can be giddy.

Added to this is expectation. Pastoral Care to one individual or family in any of the above groups will carry different expectations on how best to support them. For some a visit with a chat and coffee is good; others a phone call suffices. Different circumstances demand at times meals, housekeeping or garden/yard cleanups to be a priority. For a few in the Church mentoring/discipleship, biblical studies and spiritual growth is important. A close look at these will readily reveal ‘one size doesn’t fit all.’

God’s example of love involved response. “He so loved the world, He gave…” In the Church with Christ in our hearts, He asks that we respond on His behalf. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) That is why the most important commodity in Pastoral Care is YOU! You and I (not as Pastor, but as brother, sister, neighbor, friend and fellow sojourner here). You & I hear, sense and feel one another’s needs and respond accordingly.

We live in a culture, which asks, though not verbally, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). We know God’s response to this question. Jesus answered the question, “Who is my brother?” (Luke 10:29) when He gave the parable of the Good Samaritan. James summarized this argument in saying, “Whoever loves God must also love his brother [sister].”

Good relationships and communication facilitate healthy pastoral care. As EBC has grown, new relationships and expanding structures have stretched our understanding of what PC will require. Our church community is ‘kicking some goals’ in pockets while there’s still some ‘holes in the net’. In my next Pastor’s letter (in a few weeks), I’ll highlight the many areas we are succeeding in and those areas we will be growing toward.

In the meantime - “Many people are looking for an ear to listen.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)  

A few weeks ago the ABC television program Q&A discussed the topic, “The Existence Of God.” A variety of panel members engaged with the topic as did the studio audience. For the most part it was a fairly tame discussion and perhaps not overly impacting. It was very encouraging however to have a television program at least discuss the topic. One pre-recorded question from a member of the public was particularly relevant. Broadly the questioner asked why God doesn’t speak like he once did thousands of years ago in the form of a burning bush or through plaques, miracles and appearances as recorded in the Old Testament. In other words, why is God silent? A fair and reasonable question by all accounts.

John Lennox a Christian apologist and Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, who was a guest panellist on the program, responded to the question in this way. That is the wrong question, what should be asked is, why are Australians not listening anymore? Professor Lennox had astutely answered the question with a more discerning and relevant question, which effectively answered the original question.

This I believe revealed a typical western mindset in relation to God – He answers to us, we do not answer to Him! Why is God not speaking, why is He not acting, why does He not use His power for good, why is He so mysterious? All these questions seem fair and reasonable but ultimately, as created beings who are subordinate to the Creator, surely there are a range of questions that should be asked of us? Why has God made us, what does He require of us, what is His plan for the world and my part in that plan?

Professor Lennox went further and suggested that the original question about God not speaking in the world today would seem rather ridiculous in many parts of the world, such as China and South America not to mention Africa. In these countries thousands of people have been touched by God and responded to His voice in more recent years. As I watched the program and considered the questions and answers I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness and burden that this great southland of Australia is indeed spiritually impoverished and to date we remain spiritually insensitive to the great works of God that are currently apparent in many countries of the world.

What will it take for Australia to awaken from her spiritual slumber?

Brian

You don’t have to watch the evening news for very long to hear about crimes against children.  I don’t need to talk very long about State MPs or parents neglecting their kids to the point of death.  You would have had to live in a cave to not know about the universal church’s own failings when it comes to protecting children.  Anyone who listens to international news knows of the plight of children through wars and disasters.  You already know that children are the most vulnerable people on the planet.

The Bible is full of amazing children.  Josiah, king at the age of eight, was one of the few kings who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 22:2).  One of my favourites is the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus in John 6, what an example of discipleship!  How moving, when Elisha raises a boy to life in 2 Kings 4 and Jesus raises a girl from the dead in Luke 8.

On one occasion Jesus became ‘indignant’ when his disciples prevented children from coming to him.  I looked up some synonyms for indignant and discovered angry, boiling, fuming, furious, riled and wrathful.  Mark 10:14 and 15 tells us that the kingdom of God belongs to children and that adults have got to be like children to enter it!  God is passionate about children and loves them dearly.

It’s great that we can include strategies to impact children as part of our vision to Impact Adelaide! I read in a great book, Too Small To Ignore by the President and CEO of Compassion that, “fully half the world, and especially the developing world, are children and teenagers.”  That’s a lot of kids!

It’s exciting to be a part of EBC’s desire to see children in relationship with our Lord and Saviour.  Kids ministry is not a tack on to the ‘real’ stuff in the auditorium, it’s not babysitting so the parents can sit without distraction in church or at home on a Friday night.  Kids who experience EBKidz and iYouth are opening the word of God and are being invested in because we believe with all our being that they matter to our creator.

That is why we are big on child protection at the moment.  Late last year Joy Blesing and I attended an information session on changes to legislation that require us to comply with a number of measures to be a Child Safe Environment.  We formed a working group to make sure we comply and since the beginning of this year we have developed a draft Child Safe Policy including: a Volunteer Application Form, Codes of Conduct for leaders and children, and a Child Offender Policy.  We still have a few more to go.  Our policy assumes that there are people who would seek to harm children and gain access to them (which is why we need a policy in the first place).

The bottom line is that the Children’s Protection Act states that a volunteer of an organisation formed for religious purposes is a mandated notifier - whether you are involved in a ministry with kids or not.

I urge you to attend one of the upcoming Child Safe Environment information sessions or to get to the Members’ Meeting on Tuesday 26^th July to hear more, and consider undertaking one of the fully certified Child Safe Training Sessions I will be running throughout August (as an approved trainer for the Department of Families & Communities).

EBC is passionate about Child Protection.  We don’t simply want to comply with our legal obligations, we want to excel in our God-given mandate to care for and raise Godly children.

Simon George
Children & Families Pastor

Laughter is the best medicine! At least that’s what some people say. Laughter helps us to relax and apparently has many beneficial psychological effects. I love being around people with a good sense of humour, anyone who knows me well knows that I also love to laugh and have a good sense of humour. Some people have an incredible sense of humour and see the funny side of life all the time. It’s often an experience to talk to some people without them turning what you are saying into a play on words or some kind of joke. Those who know Gary Irons in our church know that Gary has an incredibly quick wit and he’ll soon have you laughing about something you’ve just said.

I have always wondered about laughter and God. Where does a sense of humour come from, is it an evolutionary flaw or has God given us a humour as a means to enjoy life and relax? I believe it’s the latter and that laughter is indeed one of the many blessings that God has given to us. I always like to back-up my perspectives with a biblical reference or precedent but that’s difficult when it comes to laughter. We don’t exactly find God or Jesus laughing all the time. We assume there were occasions when Jesus certainly must have laughed, especially when you consider the kinds of personalities that followed Him but it’s only an assumption.

I’m sure Peter gave lots of reasons to ‘crack up’ with his ill thought out words and actions such as when they were up on the Mt of Transfiguration. There is Jesus who suddenly becomes glorious in appearance and Moses and Elijah suddenly appear and Peter suggests it might be a good idea from him to build three tents for them; one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. In the midst of Peter’s statement God speaks from heaven, and Peter and the two other disciples there, James and John, all fall to the ground. The experience must have been awe-inspiring and in the midst of it all Peter says the strangest thing by offering to make some tents. One can only imagine Jesus’, Moses’ and Elijah’s response to Peter’s suggestion.

The occasions that the Scriptures do tell us about God laughing is when He is mocking His enemies, for example; Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision Psalm  37:13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. Psalm 59:8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.

The wisest of men, King Solomon, tells us that there is a right time to laugh. So I encourage you to relax, and have a good laugh from time to time, and as Solomon says, it’s all a matter of getting your timing right. Eccl. 3:4 a time to weep, a time to laugh. Remember Sarah who laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, and the Lord rebuked her for it, Genesis 18:9-15. Strangely enough Sarah later said that God had made her laugh and everyone who hears how God has blessed her will laugh with her, Genesis 21:6. Laughter may well be the best medicine after all.

WHAT IF…?

What if … Iran had the nuclear capability to arm an intercontinental missile with the capacity to reach the East Coast of America?

What if … Russia formed an alliance with many Middle Eastern countries and fully equipped their armies with tanks and rockets and all the weapons of war?

What if … many Arab nations called Israel the little Satan and America the great Satan and stated their intentions to not rest until they had completely wiped both nations from the face of the earth?

What if … some Arab nations became radicalised by Islamic extremists who believed the only way to be absolutely certain of gaining a place in paradise was to sacrifice ones life by killing ‘infidels’ (a secular person or of a religion other than ones own) in Jihad or Holy war?

What if … radical Islam planned to infiltrate nations through immigration and refugees and once established in countries cultivated radical Islam and put pressure on governments to gradually introduce Sharia Law as a means to allow Islam to influence a nation?

What if … Western countries increasingly accepted abortion and homosexuality as natural and normal and those who opposed this as judgemental, intolerant and unloving?

What if … governments became more concerned about animals and the environment than people and spent millions to preserve and protect the environment while tens of millions of humans suffered and were dying of famine and disease?

What if … violence, immorality, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction reached epidemic proportions so that people became increasingly incapable of leading normal, productive lives?

What if … divorce and dysfunctional families became the norm and many children grew up with only one parent and couples formed pre-nuptial agreements as a foundation for marriage?

What if … an increasing number of Christians rarely read their Bibles and pressured preachers and Bible study leaders to present ‘lite’ sermons and studies because many found the Bible heavy and boring?

What if … prominent Christian preachers taught tens of thousands of Christians that health and wealth is God’s will for every obedient Christian and only sinful and disobedient Christians are poor and unhealthy and the reality of hell and belief in Jesus as the only way to God is questionable?

What if … increasing numbers of young adults left the church because those who controlled the church were more concerned about the past than the future?

What if … Christians gave less financial support to the church and stepped back from involvement in ministries and only attended the church when convenient to their lifestyle?

What if … words like commitment, hard work, sacrifice, loyalty, faithfulness, conviction, devotion, obedience and submission were seen as legalistic and contrary to God’s grace by a cynical generation of Christians?

What if … Christians lives became dominated by materialism, leisure, pleasure and self-seeking and the church became increasingly indifferent to communicating with family and friends the realities of heaven, hell, salvation and judgment to come?

What if … all of the above and more were true of the world in which we live, would you be convinced it is the last days and what do you think God wants you and the church to do in response to these realities? I’ll give you a clue, two words both beginning with R; ­­R _ _ _ _ _ and experience R_ _ _ _ _ _!


Brian