Hello Spring and Happy Father's Day for last Sunday.
Catchup on last Sunday’s sermon with Pastor Stephen’s new sermon series ‘Ordinary people of an extraordinary God’
Can God use me? How can I make a difference?
He takes our everyday ordinary and use for his extraordinary.
Pastor Stephen reflected on James 5:17-18
Who was Elijah? He was a regular guy.
We are created by God with design for a purpose.
What have you made me for and how can I live in it? It begins with a step, a step with God. So many little things that God can use in powerful ways.
Alpha is continuing at Cafe Church until November - come along - you're invited Sundays at 6pm. Each session is a stand alone night, we have some worship, a meal, video and conversation. We are getting to know one another and enjoy growing as we learn more through ALPHA.
Another great day at MCC last Sunday as we worshipped together and if you missed Lawrie McArthur’s message please check it out on the YouTube Channel link attached as we heard about PARTNERSHIP IN GOSPEL
Then in the evening we filled the house with 175 people, including many families and kids from ONE50 who are not connected in church communities, and the room was filled with joy and smiles just radiated from each of the ONE50 team.
Kel shared a beautiful and direct message that connected all present with how much God loves us and there was silence in the room as people engaged with each person who shared. WOW! Our BBQ team fed every person and what a sensational job our BBQ Church team did!
We were so blessed by being in the room and seeing ONE50 again after a number of years due to the Covid season. We can be really encouraged as the feedback from our guests and families was that they felt welcome and that “it felt like home and a community”.
Rev Tim Costello was our guest at the 10am service at Marion Church of Christ last Sunday - you'll not want to miss catching up on this!
Rev Tim spoke the word on The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-27
- Did the lawyer sitting with Jesus ask one question too many? He was out of his comfort zone.
- How can people walk by one another needing help.
- The Samaritan looked beyond tribalism and saw a human.
- Jesus believed even my enemy has the image of God - from that thought flows dignity …
- If you want eternal life, you need to ask who’s my neighbour. How we live here on earth matters.
Connect in on the MCC Youtube channel to hear the worship, praise, communion and sermon in full from Sunday's Service.
Blessings,
MCC Church Office
David Helyard from Compassion joined us on Sunday as our guest speaker.
God’s heart is for the poor. Compassion works in 27 countries through 8 1/2 thousand churches. Meeting the physical social emotional and spiritual needs of children and communities.
We live in interesting times don't we - David said there are 3 big questions!
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- Where am I going?
People want an answer. We need to build a bridge to our community.
1 Corinthians 15:2
Who is God? The Bible focuses on identity. A mirror to who God is and who we are.
Genesis 1:27
- We are loved and belong to God. Made in His image.
- We are not created to judge.
- We have a responsibility that they are loved.
- My soul is different to my spirit.
- We aren’t here to just exist, but to advance the kingdom of God - to love God and love one another.
- How to develop and mature - be nice, be kind, love people
- There is life after death - that is the truth of the scriptures and the resurrection
- Jesus resurrection is critical to the whole deal
- We have God’s power within us
If you missed yesterday morning’s service please catch it up online as you will want to hear David Helyard’s message as it tied is so well with what we are exploring in the book of Acts and Alpha. Please check out the Compassion Australia website and prayerfully consider sponsoring a child and making a difference in their lives, https://www.compassion.com.au
Pastor Stephen Scott spoke on Sunday's 10am service - starting with the question: What brought us together today?
Jesus - we have that in common.
But ...
- how did our church come to be?
- how did the gospel come to Australia?
Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-5
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
The community and church multiplied itself as it shared the gospel wherever they went. What kind of community are we building? Are we sharing the gospel wherever we go?
Check out the link to the 10am service attached - worship, communion and sermon from Sun 6 August 10am.
Don't forget that we are back next Sunday 13th August 10am Family Service, 6pm Cafe Church (Alpha).
Everyone is Welcome! We'd love to see you there!
Pastor Sonya spoke The Word on Sunday and of the conversion of Saul to Paul
- He was a changed man from the inside by God.
- His belief system turned completely upside down.
- He encounters the risen Christ. A revelation of Jesus Christ.
Every conversion is miraculous.
God can reach out to even the most hardened person. Our task is to introduce people to Jesus.
Plan to come along to Alpha next Sunday night at 6pm - and invite someone to come with you. Come for a meal, watch a video and enjoy a chat.
Acts 9:1-19 Saul’s Conversion
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Saul discovered his calling on the way to Damascus.
Lawrie McArthur spoke the Word on Sunday at the 10am service as we continued the current series on the early church. Acts 8:27-40
Sometimes we’re asked to do something and it seems a step too far.
So on Sunday's service Laurie looked at - Is sharing the good news a step too far?
Philip hitchhiker driven out of Jerusalem and meets a regal Ethiopian on the road passing him by.
- Check for Godly understanding in the scripture.
- The comparisons between Philip and the Ethiopian would have been vast.
- Be open to the Holy Spirit in our lives - Philip listened and took action.
- Think and use our minds to Examine this Bible story
- Look behind the written words to see the truth
Our obedience brings great blessings. Have a listen to Lawrie's sermon from Sunday - link attached.
We would love to see you come along to our 10am services and this week our Community Event BBQ Church at 6pm. Everyone's invited and welcome!
Pastor Stephen spoke The Word on Sunday - continuing looking at the Early Church.
Even though we will encounter hardship and opposition as Ashley spoke about last Sunday, God's purposes turn evil into good.
Acts 8:1-4
The church scattered and spread its roots in other places, Pastor Stephen reflected that the early church were refugees - they kept their faith and preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:1
Sometimes it takes being uncomfortable to do things differently. There might be trouble ahead but stay on this path.
Because wherever you go the gospel is with you - that is we bring Jesus with us.
Don’t underestimate the power of sharing your story - what Jesus means to each of us and what He’s done in our lives.
Please join Ashley in You tube as he spoke the word on Sunday at the 10am service continuing in the series on ACTS - the early church.
Matthew 5:10-12
- Insults and evil we may receive because of our service and following of Jesus
- Be joyful - a blessing not a curse
- Whatever happens, Jesus has overcome the world
- Be bold in serving God. The victory is His.
John 16:33
Acts 5:12-25, 40-42