From the Pastor's Pen
Sunday, 17th November 2019
Good morning everyone,
First of all, I would love to welcome the families of the Brigades who have come to support their children here today. It would be great to see you at morning tea after the service. Further, both Brigades have their awards nights this Monday and Tuesday. If you are free, it would be great to see you there.
Secondly, let’s continue to pray for the emergency services and those who have experienced so much loss with the bush fires. Let’s also keep praying for our farmers in a devastating drought. Let’s pray for good rain!
Thirdly, I am so grateful to you all in relation to what was shared and spoken about at Comms Café last week. Whilst the added compliance measures and changes may seem a little overwhelming at first, I believe that we, as a community, are able to do this. I also believe that God has given us a mission to be the best possible 'safe church' and a light to this community, and am looking forward to seeing us step up even further to be a church of faithfulness, community and discipleship with a missional outlook.
This is why I love saying, I love serving alongside you all,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 10th November 2019
Good morning everyone,
I hope you had a great week.
Today, we are having a one-week interlude from our current preaching series on Philippians, and Bob Armstrong will be speaking from the book of Joshua. His theme is 'Listening to God'.
A reminder that following the service this morning we have Comms Café in the hall. It would be great to see you all there.
Next Sunday is our Boys' and Girls' Brigade Service, then, on the 1st of December, we are looking forward to witnessing Michael and William Cook being baptised.
As we announced last week, we are putting together non-perishable food items and gifts for Peter and Bronwyn's daughter's family who are struggling with the severe drought on their farm at Warren. Thanks to those who have brought items today. In case you weren't here last week and didn't know, Fay and Bob Armstrong will be happy to collect items this week until Friday. Please see them for their address and the best time to drop items off.
See you at the Comms Café.
I love serving alongside you all,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 3rd November 2019
Good morning everyone,
I hope you had a good week.
Today, we continue the series on the New Testament book, Paul’s letter to the Philippians. As I shared last week, if I was under the same circumstances which Paul was in, I wonder what I would write in a letter to a group of fellow believers. Can you help me escape? Do I ask for help with things like food? Or as Paul demonstrates, would my motivations be focused on seeing that the gospel is preached no matter what circumstances I was in?
Secondly, I have an invitation for you. On Wednesday nights, we have our GEL group (Grow, Encourage, Learn). We have just started a course from Freedom in Christ Ministries called ‘The Grace Course’. Those who are currently attending, have expressed how much they are learning about the topic of grace and being encouraged as they participate in this workshop. Last Wednesday’s topic was so helpful, we are going to repeat it this week! And you are invited! If you are free, it would be great to see you there this Wednesday 6:45 for a 7:00 pm start in the hall.
Lastly, on November 17 we have a combined Girl’s and Boy’s Brigade service which will be a great opportunity for us to welcome and encourage the families of those attending. Also, as shared last week, on the 1st of December, we are having a Baptism service. If you have or are prayerfully considering seeking to be baptised on that day, please come and see me after the service today.
I love serving alongside you all,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 27th October 2019
Good morning everyone,
I hope you had a great week.
Firstly, I would like to inform everyone that we are planning to have a Baptism Service on the 1st of December. If being baptised is something you are prayerfully considering, please contact me.
Thank you to Bob Armstrong and Robert James for sharing in God’s Word to us whilst I was away on leave. I would also like to specially acknowledge Robert James who acted as Church Secretary and Treasurer whilst Geoff Cannon was away as well.
Over the next few months I will be speaking from Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church with the overarching theme “To Live is Christ”. I hope this series is fruitful for you as we explore what Paul has written. Please consider reading through this wonderful book of the Bible during the week.
Lastly, we had a very product Diaconate meeting on Thursday night and is it such a blessing a privilege serving alongside this wonderful team
I love serving alongside you all as well,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 20th October 2019
Good morning everyone,
In recent times we have seen a surge in personal attacks on those who publicly declare their Christian faith without compromising their beliefs by much of the print, TV, radio and social media. And we have seen Christianity denounced because of the actions of a few, as highlighted by the recent Royal Commission.
Some extremists, sceptics and other religions even ask, “Did Jesus really exist?” pointing to ‘differences’ in the four Gospels as ‘evidence’ that they are unreliable, and, therefore, that Jesus wasn’t real. In relation to these differences, Darrell Bock (New Testament Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary) comments on the use of ‘instant replays’ in sporting events (The best known of which in Australia utilise this technology in tennis, NRL and cricket):
“Some angles that you’re looking at will answer the question in terms of what the ruling should be. Others won’t, because they just don’t give you the appropriate angle. Likewise, you get these differences between the Gospels; and what sceptics will tend to exploit as contradictions, actually may be only be different angles on things.”
However, there is more written evidence that Jesus lived and rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever existed; even Alexander the Great for that matter.
The Roman/Jewish scholar and historian, Josephus (AD c.37-c.100) specifically mentions the life, deeds, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in his discussion of the historic period in which the Jews of Judaea were governed by the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate.
The Roman senator and historian, Tacitus (AD c.55-c.117) referred to Christ, his execution by Pontius Pilate, and the existence of early Christians who were blamed for the burning of Rome (AD 64).
Also, Pliny the Younger (AD c.61-113), Roman governor of Bithynia and Pontus (modern-day Turkey), sought advice from the emperor Trajan around AD 112 in relation to ‘dealing with the Christians’.
It is worth noting that these respected writers – historians and public officials – were contemporaries of the Gospel writers who completed their gospels; Matthew (in approx. AD 38), Luke (AD 63), Mark (AD 65) and John (AD 97). All are evidence of first-hand accounts, albeit from different angles.
Be assured: Jesus was real, He lives, and His Word is without error. And thank God that those of the Christian faith who speak the truth may continue to do so without compromise even under intense media attacks.
Robert James
(Based on my article of August 6, 2017)
Sunday, 13th October 2019
Good morning everyone,
With Nigel on holidays, Bob Armstrong has provided a thought for today.
Francis Thompson was a nineteenth century English poet who failed at early ventures and ended up destitute until taken in by a benefactor who was impressed with his poetry. 'The Hound of Heaven' is his most famous work, telling of God's persistent pursuit of him until finally he surrendered to His love.
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest," says the Hound of Heaven to the object of His pursuit. The persistent mercy of God is what finally captured the poet's heart.
It is also what saved Lot, the nephew of Abraham, in the wicked city of Sodom. Before God judged the city, He gave Lot repeated opportunities to escape. Lot, his wife, and two daughters were finally dragged, kicking and screaming as it were, from the city of sin. God's mercy was greater than Lot's own spiritual reasonableness, as is often the case with us all.
Only heaven will tell how many times God has saved us from ourselves by working harder at our salvation and deliverance than we did. Have you thanked God recently for His persistent mercy?
Thankfully, our resistance is not as great as God's persistence.
Bob Armstrong
Sunday, 6th October 2019
Good morning everyone,
With Nigel on holidays, Bob Armstrong has provided a thought for today.
A famous preacher was once put in prison for preaching the Gospel. As a result, some less mature preachers were emboldened by his example and began publicly taking a stand for Christ. What was intended to stifle the gospel ended up spreading it even more.
That famous preacher was, of course, the apostle Paul (you can read his story in Philippians 1). One wonders if Paul drew inspiration in his situation from Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him as a slave to traders headed for Egypt. Years later, Joseph became Pharaoh’s trusted official, and saved his brothers from starvation when they came to Egypt in search for food.
“What you meant for evil,” Joseph told them, “God used for good.” Joseph had eyes of faith to see the hand of God at work even when evil was directed towards him.
If you have suffered for some reason you don’t understand, try looking above and beyond the situation. If you do, you’ll find the outline of the hand of God in the background.
If you could see everything you want to know, there’d be no need for faith.
Bob Armstrong
Sunday, 29th September 2019
Good morning everyone,
Wow, Term 3 has concluded this week. Hasn’t this year seemed to have flown by?
Today, we draw our ‘Journey through Genesis’ to a conclusion. It is my hope and prayer that the standout theme for you during this series, has been on the importance of living a life of faith and trust in God.
I would like to thank all who participated at the working bee yesterday as well as those who are participating in the interior spring clean on Tuesday.
It was great to see the new canvas images for the church arrive during the week. Thanks to Margaret for facilitating this as well as Robert and Kate for their time in the final designs. We are grateful for Baptist Care’s monetary contribution to this. Thank you, Stan, for installing these meaningful pictures in the buildings. Wasn’t it good to have a process where we were all given an opportunity to participate in the designs as well.
Stage 1 renovations of the Old Hall looks fantastic. A big thanks goes out to all of those who provided so much skill, material and time.
Please note that I will be on Annual Leave for the next three weeks. Whilst I am away, Bob Armstrong will be sharing two sermons from the book of Joshua. This will be followed by Robert James sharing one sermon from the book of Galatians. As a lot of our ministries are also in recess, let’s give thanks to God for all our ministry leaders, helpers and SRE Teachers. For any emergency pastoral or administrative needs, please contact Robert James.
I love serving alongside you all and I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 22nd September 2019
Good morning everyone,
Hasn't it been good to have some rain!!
One of the points that I will be making in today's message comes from 1 Samuel 2:30. Some of us may also recognise the quote from the movie Chariots of Fire. Do you remember the scene where the American athlete, Jackson Sholz, handed the famous English athlete and missionary, Eric Liddell, a piece of paper just prior to his gold-medal-winning race, containing the now-famous quote, "He who honours me, I will honour?" Liddell lived a life of wanting to honour God in all that he did.
As we will also see today in our Journey through Genesis, Joseph honoured God and lived a life of faith which saw him being rewarded with blessings, much more than he could imagine.
With this in mind, maybe you could reflect on today's main theme, which is living your life of faith as a pilgrimage. What is the prize that you seek? An Olympic gold medal? Or, as Paul writes in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Are you equipped for the journey ahead?
I love serving alongside you all on our journey of faith,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 15th September 2019
Good morning to you all,
In the bulletin last week, I shared with you a conversation I had with a colleague on how long our morning service being about three hours. This has caused me to reflect on our connectiveness in relationships.
One of the days this week was the National ‘R U OK? day. This is designed for us to connect with someone and ask if they are personally okay. As I have shared a couple of times, currently, our culture is experiencing the greatest connectiveness in human history. Do you remember in various futuristic sci-fi movies a couple of decades ago the way humans were portrayed in how they communicate with their various devices? Now this is a reality. We seem to be constantly ‘connected’ to our devices seeking to be ‘connected’ with others. But is this a true reality? If our connectiveness is so great, why is the sense of loneliness and relationship breakdowns in our culture sky high?
As I suggested last week, our service is about three hours. We have the service here in the church building and our time in the hall afterwards. When we think about the word ‘service’ what does this mean to you? Let’s continue to be intentional in how we ‘serve’ and ‘connect’ with each other. Let’s continue to be a faithful ‘serving community’ of the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ and sharing in God’s love together in a time of listening, sharing and praying for each other.
I love serving alongside and connecting with you,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 8th September 2019
Good morning everyone,
It’s great to see you here today.
At one of the training sessions which I attended recently, one of my colleagues asked me, “How long does your morning service usually go for?” I was about to answer him, then I stopped and reflected.
When I did give him an answer, I said, “About three hours.” He exclaimed, “Wow, that’s a long service!”
I said “Well, an important component of our service is the morning tea that we have. As I observe the conversations, I see people sharing, praying and generally spending time intentionally. That’s another part of what it means to be ‘church’ isn’t it?” He answered, “I wish our church could do that. Our lives appear to be so busy nowadays, and people just seem to need to rush off.”
So, this made me reflect on what ‘price’ we put on time. If I may encourage us all, as we ‘spend’ time here today, especially at morning tea, let’s reflect on the fact that we are still in church, involved in church, being church.
Today we will continue our “Journey through Genesis’ with the first part of chapter 39 as our focus.
I love serving alongside you all,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
Sunday, 1st September 2019
Good morning to you all,
It is good to see you.
With it being Father’s Day today, we would like to recognise the important place which fathers have within the overall family unit. However, for some of us, Father’s Day may be a difficult day where we may not have a dad around to celebrate with. There may be, for some of us, memories which just don’t sit in a good place. We recognise this, and may I say, I hope the sense of love from your brothers and sisters in Christ here, today, can be a source of prayer and ministry for you. Let’s also remember how much our heavenly Father loves us all (John 3:16). Let’s turn to him in our times of need.
As we continue our sermon series ‘The journey through Genesis’ today, we will be introducing Joseph who is our final focus of the patriarchal narrative. As we will see over the next few weeks, through the life of Joseph, the covenant family in Canaan becomes an emerging nation in Egypt, which sets the stage for the Exodus. There are certainly some struggles along the way. As we have previously explored in our journey, the topic of faith is the primary focus.
Also, our Sunday Juniors are exploring the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ in their part of the service today. We look forward to seeing what transpires from their time together. Let’s give thanks to God for all the people here who serve and minister to our younger ones.
I love serving alongside you all,
Pastor Nigel Lyons
