Following Christ in an increasingly secular environment
Friday 3rd June 2002
A man by the name of Blake Chastain coined a new term around 2016: Exvangelical. It is a social movement of people who have left evangelicalism, especially “white evangelical churches” in the United States, for atheism, agnosticism, progressive Christianity, or any other religious belief. The reading of literature about this Exvangelical movement makes it seem that the process of deconstructing one’s religion is the end of the road for your relationship with Christ and people inevitably will end “faithless” or “cynical”. I do believe, however, that the secularization of our environment can also be seen as testing and developing of what is real faith, even if Satan is the instigator of the testing:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” '
Luke 22:31-32 NIV
Strength is proven through resistance…those who have ever done weight training will confirm this. With the prospect of resistance, strength development actually starts by envisioning the possibility of overcoming the resistance. In some ways, faith is the response to the possibility of a victorious outcome. Let’s read how Jesus counselled his disciples in his conversation about his imminent departure and a season of resistance awaiting them:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”'
John 16:33 NIV
He points their focus towards him who has overcome the world! Where the mind goes, the man follows they say… As we behold Him, our inner man awakens to his! It is no wonder the Bible refers to us with confidence in our ability to withstand onslaughts in this world:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. '
Matthew 5:13-16 NIV
The Apostle Paul has this counsel for us:
'Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky '
Philippians 2:14-15 NIV
While some may choose to jump on soapboxes and others revert to aggression, Paul suggests another way – doing everything without grumbling…or arguing. This is truly a challenge in this world. Will that really make a difference? Will we truly have an impact through this? I initially battled with this concept, and then my kids told me about the movie “Hacksaw Ridge” where Desmond T Doss won a Congressional Medal of Honour despite refusing to bear arms!
There is more to victorious living as a Christian than meets the eye: It actually is a person – the Holy Spirit! He does things through us, without the need for combative, fleshly pursuits.
'So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ” '
Zechariah 4:6-7 NIV
As we go into our new series “God Inside”, my prayer is that your faith will deepen, your victory will resound, your light will shine in the darkness!!!
Your Story | A number of people came to my aid
I will be 91 years old on the 31st March. God gave me the strength to do a one week camping trip which focused on Errinundra National Park in east Gippsland. While transiting through Orbost caravan park, I got a flat tyre. Praise God a number of people came to my aid and basically did all the work in changing the wheel. Also, I was directed to the local tyre company where they fitted a new tyre. Everyone was helpful. So I have many happy memories from the trip. Praise God.
We love to hear inspirational stories about how individual lives have been changed! If you would like to share 'Your Story', please email: [email protected] and inspire others!
Fuse Youth | Friday 3rd June 2022
Fuse Youth, get ready to be the most comfortable you’ve ever been in your life at our MOVIE NIGHT this week, complete with everyone in their pyjamas/Oodies and awesome snacks, we’ll be having a super chill night this week!
Some things to know:
- we’re at BCOC as per usual
- $5 for the night
- 7-9:30 pm
- wear your best PJ’s!!
Walking Group Clyde | Saturday cancelled
Due to poor weather, the walking group has been cancelled this Saturday. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Kids Church | Sunday 5th June
Join us in person or online 10am this Sunday at Kids Church…
PREP – GRADE 2 | Love conquerors all
We should love others because God loves us 1 John 4: 9-13
WONDERKIDS & LITTLE SPARKS | Jesus can help me do everything
Jesus can help me choose to be loving | 1 John 4: 9-13
Sunday Service | God Inside 1
Who is He and what is He like?
The scriptures has a lot to say about the Holy Spirit. You will not find a book or chapter titled “All you need to know about the Holy Spirit in the Bible” because he is forever positioning himself to glorify Jesus Christ. He is like salt that enhances a dish’s flavour, without wanting to become the flavour itself. That’s why he has so many names: Helper, Friend, God. His personality is uniquely portrayed in scripture. You may ask then: How does his mind work? What does He desire? How does he feel about certain things in our world? All of these are functions of a person. Come along and find out who He is and what He is like.
If you can’t make it Sunday in person, join us online and watch live stream via YouTube or Facebook at 10am.
SYG Meeting | Sunday 5th June
State Youth Games is only a few weeks away now and we are starting to prepare ourselves for the freezing cold weather of Warragul! There are still a few areas that you can help with if you have the capacity to do so!
Given the cold and wet weather, we need an abundance of old towels that can be used to clean and dry tents across the weekend. If you have any old towels lying around that you no longer need and that you would be happy to donate to us, we would love it if you could drop them off at the church office or next steps desk on Sunday.
If you love to bake, we would like to be able to take away some pre-baked snacks that the youth and young adults can fuel themselves with over the weekend. Please remember that baking can’t include nuts due to allergies. If you would be able to bake even just a tray of cookies, please contact Sue Nicholls on her mobile 0403 822 324 That would be greatly appreciated.
Another way you can help is by praying for our young people in the lead up to this event. We are trusting that over this weekend many will come to know Jesus, experience his love and power, that chains will be broken over this generation and that community will be strengthened.
We would like to thank everyone at Berwick for getting behind our young people and having already been so generous! SYG couldn’t happen without you and so we say THANK YOU!
If you have booked a spot at this year’s SYG camp, you won’t want to miss out on all the details. Come along and get ready to learn more about this year’s exciting camp.
Details:
- Time: 12.30pm – 2.00pm
- Room: Family Life Centre
Boys Brigade | Monday 6th June
Be part of the action Monday night. For over 20 years the Boys Brigade has advanced Christ’s Kingdom among boys.
ANCHORS | Grades 1 & 2: 6pm – 7.15pm
JUNIORS | Grades 3 – 6: 7pm – 8.30pm
SENIORS | Grades 7 to 18 years old: 7pm – 9.30pm
Seniors Ministry | Wednesday 8th June
Our Seniors Ministry will have Michele Philips come to speak to us about her work at SOWS, which is the largest Wildlife shelter in The Melbourne Metropolitan area and operates 24 hours a day.
A freewill offering will be taken to support this work.
Details:
- Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
- Bring: please bring a plate for everyone to share
Church Leaders 7 Conflict Book Launch | Thursday 16th June
the weight of responsibility for the people that are entrusted to you. Your responsibility to lead them well, will definitely trigger the potential for chaos whenever their personal conflicts spill over into communal conflict. When this happens, it does not take much for a constructive environment to flip into an abrasive and destructive one.
- How do you diffuse the communal conflict?
- How do you identify its origin?
- How do you go about bringing restoration?
- How do you handle the individual that instigated conflict?
- How do you bring healing to historic hurts?
Graeme Cann has been an organizational leader for more than 50 years. In his latest book “Confronting Conflict” he distils his more-than-half-a-century worth of experience into a simple and proven plan to recognize the root causes of conflict, create safe places for healing and conflict proof your environment for the future!
Invest in your conflict diffusing capacity as a leader, as we see people engaging again organizationally post the Covid-19 pandemic. You will be able to steer your areas of responsibility away from the antiquated win/lose mentality. You will be able to reposition yourself as a servant leader and set your environment free from the fear of authoritarianism! Join us for this powerful mid-morning time of investment! BOOK NOW.
Baptism Celebration | Sunday 19th June
Baptism is the complete immersion into water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour.
However, it is more than just immersion in water. It has a number of significant meanings.
Complete the expression of interest form if you would like to be contacted about being Baptised.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
