Individual Message (Page 9)
Individual Message
Looking forward to our forever home
Those who trust in Jesus can look forward to their forever home.
Is eternal life possible?
(Baptismal service) Sometimes you can’t help asking the big questions of life. Is there a God? … What’s the meaning of life? … Is there life after death? One day a young man asked Jesus one of these questions: What must I do to inherit eternal life? It’s obvious from the story that he was a decent chap with good morals and a social conscience. But still he had nagging doubts about whether he was doing enough to get into heaven. What Jesus said to him that day was devastating. Jesus made him realise that for all his supposed goodness, he really wasn’t even close to being good enough to get there. Only a miracle of God could make it possible! And that’s why we all need to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not about what we do, but all about what He has done.
Hear, O Israel…
Deuteronomy 6 speaks to a generation who need to hear and remember the story of God’s salvation if they are going to love God and live for him wholeheartedly. Like them, we need to pass on the story of God’s salvation, through Jesus Christ, from generation to generation.
Challenge to a young pastor
Today we welcome a new pastor to our team at City North. What does God’s Word say to a young pastor about his life and ministry? Actually, quite a lot… especially in the pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus). In what appears to be the last letter he wrote from his prison cell before being martyred, Paul wrote to Timothy to urge him on. Stir up the gift God has given you! Be strong in the face of opposition! Be clear about the gospel message! Don’t deviate one millimetre from it, even when it’s unpopular to be a gospel man! See yourself as a guardian of this gospel to your generation! Be willing to suffer for it, if necessary! It’s getting harder to be a preacher and pastor in Australia today. May God continue to raise up more Pauls and Timothys today.
Following the Leader
As we celebrate baptisms, let us consider what we really mean when we say “I want to follow Jesus.”
Ready to face the Judge?
What happens when we die? The atheist says: “We rot!”. But most people have at least vague notions of an after-life. And generally these notions are positive and often expressed at funerals, such as: “At least Dad’s no longer in pain and he’ll be up there now having a good time with his mates!”. But is this true? According to Jesus a day is coming when we will all face Him as our judge and there will be a division into two groups. More sobering, He will take into account not just what we have believed but how we have lived out those beliefs in practical deeds of love and compassion. And even more sobering, many will be surprised on that day to find themselves rejected by Jesus and consigned to eternal punishment. Never joke about hell! Jesus says it’s real.
Kids holiday service: It matters who you’re with
Kids holiday service: Jesus has given us a big job to do, making disciples. We must remember that it’s Jesus’ big promise which makes the big job possible. He promises to be with us always, to the end of the age.
Peter Francis: Don’t waste the grace
In this message we look at Jesus’ gracious second call to the Apostle Peter to “Follow him”, even after Peter had three times denied him. Much had changed during the past 3 ½ years between this call and Jesus’ first call to him beside the Sea of Galilee. What caused Peter to finally come to understand the gift of God’s grace? What caused him to realise this gift of grace was not just for him to receive, but for him to pass on to others, so that they in turn might become the recipients of this amazing grace? In this message we seek to find some answers and at the same time find much that challenges our hearts about what it means to live in and by this grace.
Russell Matthews: Criteria for church members
John gives in this passage 4 criteria for evaluating members – believing, loving, obeying and prevailing.
Mark Hockey: Hope for salvation, perspective to persevere
How can Christians live amidst trials and suffering in life? By setting our eyes on Jesus for our hope, our strength, and our salvation to come.
Fitting praise
Listen as the Psalmist gives us three reasons why it is fitting that we praise God. May we always remember just how worthy of praise God is.
One amazing woman!
There are countless would-be female role models held up to us by the world of entertainment, sport, politics, the media and more. But what sort of woman does God hold up today as worth copying? Well, actually she was described 3000 years ago in Proverbs 31. Interestingly we are told nothing about her looks or sex appeal. But what a woman she was! No wonder she is “worth more than rubies”, “clothed with dignity and strength”, and worthy of praise. In many ways she has similarities to the 21st century working woman. But what’s her secret? Her role as a wife and mother, her relationships with others, her work and… well, everything about her revolves around her love and respect for God. O for more godly women like her today!