A group of about 18 of us left the church at 11:30 and headed to Spencer via the Sackville Ferry. After regrouping at Wiseman’s Ferry, we enjoyed a short scenic drive before arriving at Spencer. Lunch was held at a beautiful spot right on the wharf, where Trent & Bianca were fantastic hosts . The laksa soups proved very popular!

After lunch, everyone made their own way home at their own leisure, though a few of us stayed back and had some really interesting conversations.

My original hope for this outing was to create a way to kickstart a men’s ministry in our church, and also to provide an opportunity to invite friends and family members who don’t normally come to church. I wanted it to be a relaxed, social setting where people could see that we’re not a bunch of “weird people,” but rather a community they could feel comfortable being part of.

I believe our church really needs a men’s ministry of some kind, but events like this—especially when our partners are included—work beautifully as a bridge. They allow us to connect with one another more deeply than we can during the quick five-minute coffee after Sunday service, and they provide a welcoming environment to introduce others to our church family.

After our recent series on Revelation, I was struck by the sobering truth that while I will one day be celebrating in heaven, friends, family members, and loved ones who don’t know Christ will be facing an eternity without Him. Not just missing out, but eternal suffering, That is something I find very difficult to reconcile. My Bible knowledge isn’t strong, but I know that if I can bring my friends and family along to church, then more mature believers will have opportunities to share and connect with them.

Looking back on the day, I can see that a little more planning would have helped. My brother and a couple of mates who came along ended up sitting apart from the main group at lunch. It wasn’t anyone’s fault—it just happened that way—but I would have loved for them to sit among our church members and share conversations. 

They still had a great day, but it felt like a missed opportunity that could easily be avoided in the future with a bit more thought.

We’ll definitely be organising more outings and also working toward a more formal men’s ministry in the near future. This first event was a great start, and I’m excited to see where God leads us from here.

Last week a passage that I reflected on and spoke on fixed my attention on the servant nature of our Saviour, Jesus. Jesus says to his disciples that just don’t get the way of his kingdom and are trying to make power plays against each other:

whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26 – 28)

We often think of greatness in terms of large followings, those with so much money and those in high positions where they can demand things of others. The world usually thinks of greatness in terms power over others.

Yet Jesus, God the son himself, says greatness is found in serving others. Putting the interests of others before your own. It might look demeaning, like that of a slave as he says. Yet even if true greatness doesn’t look impressive to others greatness is bound up with the interests of others.

So as we serve others at cost to ourselves. We should take encouragement that serving others is great. It is great because ultimately it reflects the character of the God who made us. Seeking the benefit of the other is most valuable because that is what Jesus is like. Or rather when we serve others or see others serve us we see a shadow, a reflection of what true service is.

The ironic thing about what Jesus says is that serving others is the way of greatness yet what we need more than any greatness we can show others is to be served by Jesus. And the wonderful news is that Jesus has served us in the greatest way possible. His service involved was dying on a cross so that he might deliver many. Deliver many from the captivity of sin and bring them into joyful relationship with their father in heaven. Jesus’ service is the model for us, but what we need more than a model is a saviour who has served us. Praise God for our servant king!

This Christmas, we’re collecting food and gifts for those who are doing it tough. We are partnering with Anglicare in “Toys ‘n’ Tucker” which aims to share the joy of Christmas with families who would otherwise go without. This is a practical way we can share the love of Jesus with others in our local community, and we pray that this will lead to many knowing the hope found fully and only in Him.

Would you like to join me on a small team to organise our church partnering with Anglicare in this way?  The team would be an ‘event team’ – just established for the purpose of facilitating, empowering and supporting our church to be part of Toys n Tucker 2025.  Please see me if you’re interested – I reckon that being on the team will be fun, enlightening and meaningful as our church makes great impact in the lives of others.

The challenge is, to find someone who you don’t usually read the bible with and meet with them 6 times for ½ hour.

Is it a Gimmick?

YES! Of course it is. You don’t need to do Spring Challenge to be a Christian or part of the church?

But is it a Good Thing?

YES!

Why?

Because:

- It is God’s word

The best way we can care, encourage, help each other is through God’s word, for he is our ultimate help. It is only through him that we will find hope and courage that will help us through. We must use every opportunity we can to bring each other before his word.

- We are His church

We have a responsibility to each other, and not just the smaller group of people we normally mix with. This is an opportunity to go up to someone and ask if they would like to read the bible with you.

- It’s a good Habit

Over time we can fall out of good habits like reading the bible with each other. Having a set time (Gimmick) can be just the thing to help us back into good habits. It is good for us to learn how we can encourage each other in the word in the situation.

- It’s Easy

10-minute discussion on the bible passage is not meant to be too deep. But it is meant to be encouraging none the less. This isn’t about teaching each other, but encouraging each other through the word.

- There is a finish

There is always a fear to sometimes once you start something you will be trapped forever, or at least until Jesus comes back. This is meant to go for only 6 weeks. If you want to do it again because it was so good, you and the person you are with might choose different partners.

How?

If you are not sure how, contact the office and we’ll send you information to give you some clear ways forward.

Looking forward to our Challenge. I hope we take it up as a church and God uses this to deeply encourage us.

I found this insightful and challenging. I hope you do too:

God’s eternal purpose “concerns the church, the creating of a new and reconciled humanity in union with Jesus Christ”. p127

“The good news of the unsearchable riches of Christ which Paul preached is that he died and rose again not only to save sinners like me (though he did), but also to create a single new humanity; not only to redeem us from sin but also to adopt us into God’s family; not only to reconcile us to God but also to reconcile us to one another”. p129

“If the church is central to God’s purpose, it must also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the centre? No, we shall seek to become responsible church members, active in some local manifestation of the universal church…. we must keep before us the vision of God’s new society as his family, his dwelling place and his instrument in the world… – be ready to pray, to work and if necessary to suffer in order to turn the vision into a reality”. p129,130

Quotes by John R.W.Stott, “The Message of Ephesians: The Bible Speaks Today” 1989.