So we’re going to be spending the whole term on James’ letter in the New Testament. It’s fantastic – wise, witty, challenging. You can grab the first 4 studies here.
Welcome back to the first week of Growth Groups for the second half of the year! For the first week, we’re going to be doing a recap of Zephaniah. You can grab the study here.
This week I’ve been reminded of the 2 extremes of those coming to our countries from other shores.
On the one hand, I’m so incredibly happy to say that our favourite Canadians – Mitch & Steph – were recently granted their work visa here in Australia after long months of paperwork and angst. Along with the guys doing traineeships at Village, I’m so thankful for having them, and for God’s goodness in bringing people to Village who love Him, have a heart for His people, and long to see others know Him.
The other extreme has been as I’ve been readying for a 2-week holiday where I’m not worried about being persecuted, tortured, running into rebel fighters, or my kids coming into harms way, is the increasingly disturbing stance the Australian government has made towards those seeking asylum and a new life. We have the concern of doctors for children in detention and here, the cutting of finances for those who advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and most recently the bill that seeks to change the parameters by which those fleeing hardship are assessed. Read More
Our sexuality is important. But Christians would say we’re more than our sexuality. Our identity is found not in who we’re attracted to, or what our relationship status is, but in Jesus.
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We’re surrounded by desire in our arts, media, culture. We’re surrounded by people who tell us we should be fulfilled, we should pursue all our desires, and we can be satisfied. But where do you turn when you’re not?
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The first talk in our 4 week series on Song of Songs. This one starts by picking up the main theme of the book, that of love.
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If you’ve read the past two posts on the challenges of growing at Village (Don’t feel like you have to know everyone and Village is bigger, but that’s not bad(der))…thanks! Here’s the third request:
Don’t give up on Sundays
As our community grows, it’s easy to think you won’t be missed, or you’re not that important, to our Sunday meetings. Nothing could be further from the truth. Two reasons. Read More
Starting 1 June, we’re spending 4 weeks in the Song of Songs looking at love, desire, sexuality and patience. If you’re in a Growth Group, you can grab the studies here.
So in the last post about growing pains we spoke about not feeling like we have to know everyone. We want to be warm, welcoming, open & hospitable to everyone, even while we invest deeply in significantly fewer people than that, often through Growth Groups.
I mentioned there were four things I wanted to look at. Here’s the second one.
Village is bigger, but that’s not bad(der)
You might have noticed that Village Church has seen quite a few new faces in the past 18 months. If you’re one of them, we’re really glad to have you. It’s great to see the way God is working in and through people at Village, and we love the diversity, energy & dimension new people bring.
But one of the challenges facing Village Church at the moment, isn’t something unique to Village, but to any church or organisation that grows. That it “feels” different. Some love this change, some don’t. But as with every aspect of our Christian life, we’re pushed not to think about it merely in terms of us, but in terms of others.
There’s four things I want us to think about as a community as we grapple with change. Here’s the first one.
Don’t feel like you have to know everyone