Our purpose is to equip God’s servants so that they know the Bible well. Paul encourages Christians to prepare for works of service by being built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God … no longer infants, … blown here and there by every wind of teaching (Ephesians 4:12 – 14)

It is suitable for any Christian, especially if they teach children, youth or adults, who is prepared to work just that little harder at studying the Word of God.

More than 30 people have attempted one or more units through the Lakes in the last three years and 4 have already completed the PTC with another 4 getting close.

Seminars are usually held on Monday nights during term time and consist of a small group varying from 4 to ten people, depending on the subject, led by Ian Mears. Ian was a lecturer at Moore College for more than 20 years.

In term 4 2010 we plan to offer Old Testament 1 (Genesis to Deuteronomy) starting on the 11th October and in 2011: Introduction, Ephesians, Ethics and New Testament 1 (The Gospels).
Contact Ian Mears 4388 9247.

My father was never there for me…

My father was an alcoholic…

My father abused me…

… so how can you expect me to relate to God as a father?

And in the mood of feminism people are out there advocating we call God mother if we can relate to that more.

Sometimes the Bible even says that God is like a mother:

Like a mother crying out in the pain of childbirth, so God endures great cost to rescue his people (Isaiah 42:14)

Like a mother’s compassion for her baby is God’s compassion for his people (Isaiah 49:15)

Like a mother who comforts her child, God brings comfort to his people (Isaiah 66:13)

God is like a mother in his care and comfort and gentleness.

The problem is – God is not just like a father.  He is the Father.  Ephesians 3:15 says this…

I kneel before the Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth derives its name. Ephesians 3:15

Throughout the Bible God has always been known as the Father.  And when God created mankind in his image – he created fathers to mirror his fatherhood.  Now we fathers don’t do it as well as we should because of our fallenness – our sin and self-centredness.  But God’s fatherhood is what we’re trying to imitate.  He shows us true fatherhood.

I was talking about all this with my kids, and I said: “Who’s a better dad – me or God?”.  They all said,“GOD!”  So I asked, “How much better?”  Daniel said, “I hate to admit it but lots”; Micah said: “Infinity times better!”  And they’re absolutely right!

If your father was an alcoholic or abusive or never there… that is an awful thing.  But please recognise that that’s not what fatherhood ought to look like.  If you want to see true fatherhood – look to God!  He is the father par excellence!

And men, we can’t just rely on learning about fatherhood from our fathers.  We can imitate the the good things.  But ultimately it is God we’re to imitate.  Make true fatherhood your focus this Father’s Day!

Come and celebrate Father’s Day with us this Sunday.  The Kindy to Yr 6 kids are performing in the two morning services.  Between the morning services Lola Beaman is arranging a treat for the Dads: Small rolls served with bacon and a choice of either homemade chunky tomato salsa sauce or home made cheese sauce.  Sounds great!  Even if you’re not a Dad you can join in but you will have to pay $2.

Over the holidays my husband and I directed our 10th teen outreach at Camp Toukley. We had 14 current and former students on our leadership team. 22 young people on the camp made decisions for Christ. 5 students from Berkeley and Tumbi attended the camp and all of them made decisions and are now regularly attending local youth groups. The changes in them have been huge! Click here to download the newsletter for Primary and Secondary Schools in our area.

If Jesus is with us everywhere we go wouldn’t you expect that we would talk to Him about things all day long?

What is prayer?

Talking to God – asking God for things

We take prayer for granted – we have access to our almighty maker and ruler (even better than direct access to the Prime minister)

He loves us – wants us to talk to Him and wants to give us good things Matt7:7-12

God is a person, not a rock or statue or someone you perform for, he wants to listen

We are sinful and need forgiveness – we can pray for this through Jesus 1John1:7-2:2

We are told/commanded to pray

Eph6:17-18, 1Thess5:16-18, Rom12:12, Col 4:2

How should we pray?

Using words Matt6:7

Any time and all times

About any thing

Work at prayer – learn from the bible about who He is and how people in the bible prayed

- copy people, especially the prayers of the bible, persevere and then try again

So why don’t we pray?

Don’t trust God (don’t understand Him) – maybe don’t think he cares or

that my life/concerns are too trivial for

Don’t think God is able to change things

We don’t feel we are worthy to ask God for things

Satan doesn’t want us to pray 1Pe 5:6-8

We fall asleep

We forget/ get distracted by other things or even our own thoughts

We are too busy/caught up in the moment/consumed with our lives.

We put off praying until a better/quieter time when we might be able to concentrate

Shame

Anger –feel let down, feel that when God has kept saying no to my prayers he has not been listening

We don’t listen to our conscience or God

We think God knows it all – why should I pray?

Keep trying to control our lives by ourselves

Too busy thinking and stewing/being anxious to take time to pray

Don’t feel ready to pray

We don’t plan to pray

The ideas here also reflect ideas from the helpful book:

“Prayer and the Voice of God”, by Phillip Jensen

And also thoughts discussed at WOW (Women of the Word).