Passage: Matthew 18:21-35

Preacher: Juhan Klooster

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This Sunday we have Murray Capill bring us God’s Word from Matthew 16:18. Murray led the sessions at our Elder Training Conference yesterday and has stayed on to be with us in worship today. Murray is the Dean of Ministry Development and Lecturer in Pastoral Ministry at the Reformed Theological College in Melbourne. We thank Murray in advance for the message he will bring.

Preacher: Murray Capill

Passage: Matthew 16:13-23

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In Joshua 24:14-18, Joshua gives the most famous of all that he ever spoke. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” With a baptism and a family being brought into church membership this Sunday, it is good to affirm this truth. It is a promise to do the best we can to make sure that everything that takes place inside the home honours God. It is also a prayer that the children raised there will follow in the faith of their parents. That will require loving communication of our faith to our children and, ultimately, a work of the Spirit of God to change their hearts.

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Joshua 24:14-28

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Today we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of Wishart Community Church. This celebration is a way to give thanks to God for His faithfulness. As we look back on the past, we are reminded of the many ways that God has blessed our church. We are grateful for our members, our pastors and members, and the countless opportunities that we have had to serve our community. We also remember our heritage. We are thankful for the pioneers of our faith who laid the foundation for our church. We are thankful for the pastors and staff who have served our church over the years. And we are thankful for the countless members who have given their time, talents, and resources to build up our church community. And, as we celebrate our anniversary is a way to look to the future with hope, excited about what God has in store for us. We are committed to continuing to share the love of Jesus Christ with our community. We are committed to raising up a new generation of leaders. And we are committed to building a church that is known for its love, its compassion, and its commitment to serving others.

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Colossians 1:3-14

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Luke had just given a marvellous description of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Antioch. The church was growing by leaps and bounds (Acts 11:21). Everything was going well. Reading that, what happens here in chapter 12 is shocking and unexpected. One of God’s chosen apostles is brutally killed and another is arrested and awaiting execution. From the chapter we learn lessons important for us as the church. We see that the church is called to pray in crisis. We see the Lord’s answer to the church’s prayers. We realise that sometimes we can be surprised when the Lord does in fact answer our prayers. Finally, we see that nothing can withstand God’s purpose to glorify his Son through his Word. Not the opposition of tyrants, the indifference or hostility of public opinion, the feebleness of the church, nor the death of his faithful ministers. The remarkable progress of the Word in the first half of Acts is traceable ultimately to the Lord’s purpose and power. That was the confidence of the church in the first century, and that must be our confidence today.

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Acts 12:1-24

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There are lots of times when we’re fearful to go somewhere or do something. Some people are particularly intimidating and we avoid them or have to work up our courage to speak to them. This week we see the fear of Joseph’s brothers coming before a great and scary power – and we’re taught a lesson about how God deals with us – with mercy!

Preacher: Phil Popping

Passage: Genesis 43

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Today’s passage sends the church further north to Antioch where the church grows and expands and followers of Jesus are first called Christians. This church will keep popping up in Acts as a major launch pad for the missionary movements of Paul. But the church begins because of the persecution that originated from Stephen’s stoning back in Acts 8. People from the island of Cyprus and all the way from Cyrene on the northern coast of Africa come to Antioch and begin proclaiming Jesus to either Greek Jews, or straight up Gentiles and the church takes off. The church in Antioch is both diverse, and incredibly focused on mission and spreading the good news of Jesus in their community and across the known world. It raises questions like, ‘What are some ways the church today can take on characteristics of the church in Antioch? Who are the Barnabas like people in the church? How might we take on a Barnabas role of encouragement and support within the church and on mission?’

Preacher: Jim de Witte

Passage: Acts 11:19-30

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Pastor: Jim De Witte

Passage: Deuteronomy 6:1-12

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