A New Chapter

Jim Derrington17 Dec, 2022General

Many thanks to the Church congregation who shared their love and affection with Ben, Bec, Mia, Josh and Anna Bonython in the farewell service last month. The many gifts, well-wishing comments, smiles, laughter and hugs indicated the depth of appreciation held for the entire family. BFC was able to provide the family with a generous gift to help finance a long-awaited family holiday. They will be travelling to Sydney and Melbourne, visiting former Church adherents along the way… a Pastor, it seems, never really has a complete break!

What now for Burnside Family Church?

Isaiah 40:31 states "They that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

This verse speaks to us. Sometimes we will fly like eagles, other times we will be running, and no doubt, much of the time walking, but the promise of God is that He has enlisted the highest authority so that we might not crash-land whilst flying, not grow weary and faint as we walk the future together. The Hebrew word "wait" in the context of this verse means to "hope in sure anticipation and expectation" for what is to come. “Wait” does not mean sitting down and staring about the place. Whilst we wait in anticipation, we all put our hand to the plough.

Thankfully, I played a team sport. If things were not going so well, I could look to others, perhaps the star player to retrieve the situation. Fancy being a Boxer, just you and your opponent in the ring, and you are losing badly; left with nobody but yourself and your personal resources. In the Kingdom of God, BFC is playing the team game. We invite you all to play the game, choosing to participate while we "wait" rather than spectate.

Our Church is full of good people doing good works. Our roots run deep in the love of God and His people. In the last two weeks, without being asked, we have seen many people volunteer themselves where they perceive a gap. (Let's face it, Ben and Bec and family have left some big gaps as they wore big shoes.)

Tony and Vicki Alkmim have offered to cover Pastoral visiting in the church.
Joshua Reynolds, without a word spoken, has stepped up in leadership of all things technical.
Jeff Byerly has worked tirelessly on all things financial.
Mark Harrison heard there was a need for the bins to be put out mid-week. His hand went up.
Nick Chehade has been hosting electricians and plumbers throughout the week.
Pam Horton too, has met with tradesmen and the like on behalf of needs for BFC.
Laura Duke quickly stepped into the interim role of Youth Leader.
Murray has kindly volunteered to be a contact point regarding the Building programme.
Sharon Jenkins has responded to the need for leadership in the Wednesday connect group.

People have voiced the need for concerted prayer while we "wait." To that end, the pre-Sunday service prayer time, held in the back hall, will commence at 9:20am with intentional prayer for the Church's future being a feature. Likewise, the regular Tuesday 10:00am Prayer meeting will have a similar focus.

The Church has duly appointed Elizabeth Reynolds to undertake two days of paid employment to help fill some of the largest gaps. She is already doing so much around the Church, so with much thanks and gratitude we welcome her into the position of "Music and Administrative Director". If you would like to be added to the service roster in any capacity, then please see Elizabeth. One of Elizabeth's biggest jobs will be compiling and printing the monthly newsletter. Laura Duke will continue a half day of employment in respect to Children’s Ministry…

…and then we need a new Pastor! Conversations are already happening, but the best we can offer in relation to a new Pastor is to "wait"!

Romans 12

Ben Bonython19 Oct, 2022General

Romans 12 Series has delivered 12 messages based on the text of the chapter, but topically sent us all over the Bible as many folk delivered encouragement and teaching from the text. It has been a very practical series, offering ways to not only live, but ideas of what to think about when we consider the both the way we live, and our attitude and values that undergird our decision making.

The passage commences with the idea of a living sacrifice, and finishes with doing good to overcome evil. In other words, to be a living sacrifice means to good. And by doing good, evil is pushed back from the areas we influence in our lives.

Romans 12 reads:

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A simple google search will deliver plenty of studies and sermons and thoughts on Romans 12.

There are plenty of Youtube videos on Romans 12.

And there are plenty of books on Romans 12

While the Romans 12 Series completes on 23 October, the truth received now continues its work, so our prayer is that you would hold the truths contained in Romans 12, apply them to your lives, and make a difference in the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the glory of the Lord.

There are some select resources below just to provide a few options to review.

This is a new dynamic translation of Romans 12.