I am looking forward to our new series in Leviticus. Now, “looking forward” you might think is a little of an overstatement.

In mentioning this to a person from another church, their response was, Boring! In fact there was passion behind his statement, it was more like, BOOORIING!

He was wondering if we really wanted to grow God’s Kingdom. Leviticus is filled with strange laws that a ghastly and cringe worthy to our modern sensitivities. Who would want to come and hear a sermon series on Leviticus?

Well in answering that, ‘I do, and I believe you will too’.

Let me tell you why it’s important we preach through Leviticus.

1. Firstly because it is in the bible. We believe: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Ti 3:16-17 NIV)

We want to preach all of scripture, not just the easy bits or the bits that we like. Preaching the whole bible forces us to think hard, about what God has to say to us.

2. But secondly, Leviticus is a good part of the bible to preach. It has some important things for us to hear and dwell on.

Leviticus helps us understand the dilemma of God being Holy, and us unholy. The reality where that which is holy cannot be in contact with that which is unholy – or unclean.

Leviticus speaks of God’s grace. It is here God first officially set up the idea of a substitute for you, taking the penalty that was yours. And this was so that we can approach God.

It therefore helps us understand God’s love for us and his determination to see us come to him.

Leviticus brings colour and depth to the work of Christ. It brings depth to our worship him of him now. Leviticus is fundamental in understanding how we might build God’s church and what our worship of God might look like.

I pray Leviticus will refresh us all in the work of Christ on the cross as we approach Easter.

On Sunday, we look forward to the next in our series about Church, looking at the area of Membership:

Growing Together Towards Jesus.

At St Johns, we want to warmly welcome all (the new, the not-so-new and the one who’s been here a while).

We want to welcome well (representing the abundant welcome we have received from God).

We want to connect newcomers into the body of Christ here at St Johns, each one an integral and valued part of it. 

No one gets left behind - we want to look after one another at every point along the way, spurring one another on towards love and good deeds; showing care and concern for one another in the joys and trials of life, with a view to maturity in Christ.

We serve with intention and pray that an ever-growing number of us know that we truly belong to God, and know that we truly belong to believers in the body with whom we regularly and deeply commune.    All for God’s glory.   

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34-35).

What I noticed a long time ago when I was a youth minister, was often the time of greatest impact in a young person’s life was when we took them away.  Different environment, no distractions, and just time to build community and talk about Jesus. 

I would love us at St Johns to get away for a weekend together, no distractions, just time to be with each other, get to know each other and families in a different setting, and come under good teaching about Jesus. 

However going away may mean many are unable to join us.  There are significant costs in venues, there is the travel, there are animals that people need to feed, and it can be hard work sleeping in a bed that is not your own. 

The Big Weekend is meant to be a weekend away, but where you can sleep in your own bed.  It’s a time to not rush off but enjoy each other.  In fact, it is a time where members of our church have got to know each other for the first time.  It’s a time of fun and food – both physically and spiritually. 

This year we are fortunate enough to have a great speaker in Brian Rosner who will take us through 1 Corinthians 12-14, looking at the ‘Way of Love’ for God’s church. 

I will be talking through some key things about our church and helping us see how all the little things we do create what it means to be God’s church here at St Johns. 

If you haven’t signed up already – please do this weekend.  We need to get our catering right so signing up really helps. 

The best thing about the weekend is being together under God.  If you need help to make it there, please let us know.  It will be less of a weekend without you.

The news this week of political turmoil in Syria with the government in turmoil and the president fleeing the country is nothing new. But when this sort of event happens on the other side of the world, generally, we barely register the destructiveness and chaos so far away. It’s hard to not view such things as a world away from us. Yet we would be naïve to think that the brokenness in some far distant land is immune from our nation, community and households because the corrosiveness of sin infects all human hearts. Regardless of scale, we all know the pain of conflict and brokenness.

It was into this very world that Jesus, the fullness of God, took on flesh. This week we consider the angel's declaration of Jesus' birth to lowly shepherds. praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

(Luke 2:14)

Jesus came that we might have peace. Yes, peace with each other, but more foundationally peace with God. Jesus came that we might have renewed relationships with God and each other. And this peace we have today even as we wait for the fullness of it to come.

The conflict we see on the screen and experience ourselves will come to an end because The Christ has come. The baby wrapped in clothes lying in a manger died and rose that we might have peace in his new created order. So, as we look at events abroad or circumstances we are stuck in the middle of, we remember that by grace, by undeserved favour, we are a part of something new because Jesus has come.

Alex

The first Sunday back after the school holidays we are having what we call, ‘Mental Health Sunday’.   There are lots of reasons we do this every year, but here are 3 that are significant.

1. Mental ‘ill health’ is common.  

The statistics: at any one time, 1 in 5 people in Australia experience a diagnosable mental health condition; during our lifetime, nearly 1 in 2 of us will experience a diagnosable mental health condition.

2. The Gospel of Jesus speaks into all areas of life with grace, love and hope.

3. As a church we want to be a Community that care for those battling with mental health, and support those who care for them.

Understanding mental health and ill health, helps us love better.

This year we are looking at how our trust in Jesus helps us with our anxious thoughts.

We will be hearing stories, praying, uncovering good resources, and hearing how faith in Jesus, gives us a new perspective on our battles.

Mental Health Sunday will be a helpful time for our church, but it will also be a great Sunday to invite friends and family who may be interested in hearing a faith perspective on Anxiety.