Year: 2016

Honour ?

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on…

ACTIV8 Picture of the Week

It’s crazy to think we are already three events into the term!!  Friday night was a blast with 36 young people cramming into cars and racing around the neighbourhood to see who made the best hot chips!!  That’s right it was our infamous “HOT CHIP HUNT”, it’s amazing how much salt and grease a young person can eat!!  By the time we returned to church some were already done and had chips to spare!!

Where Jesus is …

A famous British theologian is often approached Americans asking him to fit into their theological labels. He tells this story “There is an old story about a gang of youths in Belfast stopping an Indian gentleman on the street. “Are you a Catholic or a Protestant?” they demand. “I’m a Hindu!” he answers. “Okay,” they say, “but are you a Catholic Hindu or a Protestant Hindu?” He tells the story to highlight how sometimes questions come from your background and where you live and goes on to say ?So, am I a fundamentalist creationist or an atheistic scientist? Answer: I’m a Brit.” Remember this story, because today we’re looking at the Bible, but also at something unique about New Zealand…

Be Still – Mark 4:35-41 Study Notes

In life we face storms, some that we can see coming others that surprise us. Jesus can be trusted to be with us in the storm, and may even calm it for us. 

ACTIV8 Term Three Begins

ACTIV8 is back this week!  We are starting with what is a simple night of ‘Hide n Seek’…except we will do it in the dark!!  So if your are Year 7 or 8 come on down to 180 Queenspark Drive this Friday at 7:00pm and be ready to have some fun.  

Trust – Mark 4:26-33

We started by referencing early Dirty Harry Clint Eastwood Movies where the hero (or anti hero) got their way by force (a large magnum gun).  This kind of revenge and justice movie is a theme of Hollywood. Take 5 minutes and see how many movies you can think of that have this as a theme. I’ll get you started, John Wick, The Equaliser, Commando, The Die Hard series, Taken….(Carry on). To a large part this was the kind of Messiah the Jews were expecting. Someone who would ride in on their white horse and ride the baddies out of town. (Hint: The Romans were the baddies and they ruled by force). Read Joel 3:12-13  (what kind of Saviour does this…

WYSIWYG Followers

A Lamp on a Stand 21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Mark 4:21–25 (NIV) One of the criticisms of church is that we are a bunch of hypocrites (What…

Sower/Seeds/Harvest – Mark 4:1-

Sorry guys I’ve been down with a cold, and so these notes are somewhat limited. So as an experience in reading the Bible together; Part 1 Try reading Mark 4:1-9  out loud. Then stop and spend some time talking about what the story (parable) says. Look at it as if it’s a painting on the wall. What questions come to mind ? (Don’t try to answer all of them). What details do you notice ? Is it about the sower ? The Seeds ? The Harvest ? What do you think ? Part 2 Now read it again out loud – use it as a mirror to look at yourself. This time spend some time asking God what this story…

ACTIV8 Photo of the Week

As the term draws to an end we had our regular event we call…”Nothin Much”. It’s just a chance to hang out and build relationship with each other and have some simple fun. It can be anything from some good old Robo-Jam on the now ancient PS2, playing cards…or making pikelets…the whole idea is to do ‘Nothin Much’ and enjoy each others company.

Beyond Hallmark : Mark 3:31-35

Family – We all come from a family of some kind. It’s part of what has made us what we are. As kids we grow up thinking that our family is normal but the normal of families can range from brilliant to horrifying. Churches often want to talk about families like hallmark cards; Lots of lovely sentiments and cutesy slogans but the bible is nothing like as sen timental about families. In Matthew 2:19 Jesus’ family flees death squads for Egypt. Read Luke 2:41-50. Imagine your self as  either Joseph or Mary.  Would you be upset with Jesus ? Why didn’t 12 year old Jesus let them know what he was doing ? How come it took so long. Look…