Jeremiah's writings covered the time of five different monarchs in the kingdom of Judah. It was a volatile time within and from without the kingdom.
Jeremiah watched the decline of the people of God into rampant apostasy and hypocrisy. They only wanted God involved when an enemy army appeared on their borders. All other times, the people of Jerusalem and Judah rejected the 'Word of the LORD' - most notably the kings and Temple teachers.
Jeremiah repeatedly warned, pleaded and called God's people to turn again to the LORD their God, with all of the hearts and minds. He told of God's future work when the Law would no longer be a codified set of writings that could be legalistically abused to entrench power, but when God's Spirit would write His law on people's own hearts in a new covenant.
Eventually Jeremiah watched his beloved city (Jerusalem) and Solomon's great Temple be destroyed even as he was taken to Egypt to flee the destroyers. His distress at his prophecies becoming reality is clear in his writings.
Jeremiah was regularly referred to in the New Testament writings, and the writer to the Hebrews uses the prophecy of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31 - Hebrews 8) to great effect, showing how Christ's coming, teaching, death and resurrection ushered in the New Testament/Covenant, and Christ's outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost wrote the Law on the hearts of God's people.
That includes us. We must remember the danger of legalistic abuse of Old Testament Law - and be just as cautious of reducing God's Word to a "break in case of emergency" - as when an enemy army is on the doorstep, or the death of a loved one, or faith-shaking event when we only turn to God's Word out of fear.
Let us be those who turn to God's Word to find it wealth and wonder in the good days, and allow the LORD our God to write His law on our hearts by His Holy Spirit. As we read Scripture, this writing will grow in depth and power in our hearts, so when the Day comes when we really need to know how great our God is, and the firm foundation of His promises, we will know and be ready to stand.
It didn't end well for Jeremiah in this life - but he knew the promises of the LORD.  May we have the strength to do the same.

Isaiah wrote to God's people seven to eight centuries before Christ, during the tumult of the Mesopotamian empires of Assyria, then Babylon.  Egypt was trying to regain former glory, and the smaller nation states between the larger empires were squabbling for power and influence within their own region - including the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Israel eventually succumbed to the Assyrians in 722 BC, then Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem was inflicted by the Babylonians in 587 BC.
Isaiah saw it all coming and loudly called on God's people in both kingdoms of Israel and Judah to humble themselves before the LORD their God, and to stop trusting in themselves and their own cleverness - outworked in treaties with other super-powers that ultimately betrayed them.
Isaiah is full of poetic literature and beautiful language that is often translated well into our English Bibles from the Hebrew. Indeed, many scholars have said that Isaiah is the 'Shakespeare of the Old Testament'. Vivid word pictures, stories and yes, prophetic visions of future events, are all arrayed throughout the book to inspire, comfort and fortify the people of God who face distress and disaster.
Too often they did not want to hear it because they lived in prosperous and seemingly secure times.
They believed they were immune from the machinations of global politics because they were the offspring of Abraham, the descendants of David and Solomon sat on the throne, and the LORD their God would protect them.
But... they forgot the covenant the LORD had forged with them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and David. They willingly turned to other gods, idols and 'detestable practices' (that still make me feel sick when I read them).
Isiah warned and called them back to covenant faithfulness. But the people, including the kings and religious leaders insisted that they knew better. The outcome smashed all their pretence.
Isaiah did not leave it at that though. He used his skill for story-telling and heeding God's voice to tell of future events, including One who would come and usher in God's kingdom in more powerful ways than His people could imagine. He told of God's future rule where every nation would recognise the LORD their God and sovereign over all, and His peace would be established in hearts, minds and governments.
This wold not be achieved by military enforcement, nor by violent bloodshed - except that of God the Son Himself, the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52-53).
If you take the time to read Isaiah, you will be rewarded with beauty and marvelous story. But you will be challenged about your own place with the LORD, your own sense of security, your expectation of continued prosperity and safety. The answer is given by God who remains faithful, even when His people turn away from Him, who never stops calling us by name to return to Him and receive security, peace and life that can never be taken by this world.
Isaiah's words should resonate within the Church today, in the light of God;s great Easter work in the death and resurrection of Jesus. I pray you will take the challenge to read Isaiah and be lifted up by the LORD your God.

The four Old Testament (Hebrew or Jewish) prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel can be daunting. In fact, I know many Christians who have barely read any of them because they feel like they will never understand what they read.
Which is a real shame.
In these four comprehensive books we find rich literature, deep roots into the mind of God, and amidst the blood, sweat and tears, relief and comfort for all who are in despair.
The problem for Western Christians in 2016 is that we may think we are oppressed or unheard, we have little concept of war, persecution and despair. So we might read these prophets and be horrified by the 'Word of the LORD' and His actions against people of different nations. In context though, for God's people who had been under attack (physically and spiritually) for generations, even centuries, such words were a reminder that the LORD their God had not forgotten, and would act mightily to redeem them from the horror.
In August 2016 we heard from each of these four Big Guns each Sunday in turn. On this page we will consider a summary of what we found, in the outline of:

1. Who were they talking to?
   
2. What did they say?
   
3. How did God's people hear it later through Christ and the New Testament?
   
4. Then finally - what do we learn from this writer today?
   

I hope this is as helpful to you as many of our Sunday morning members found it.
Steve

We are taking three weeks in this time between Easter and Pentecost to look at one chapter of Paul's first letter to Corinth.
This chapter fifteen is a library within itself of Paul's understanding of the Gospel message of Christ the Messiah who was crucified and is risen, Christ the King, Christ the victor over all enemies opposed to Him, and Christ who has and will finally conquer the curse of the Fall (Genesis 3) and death itself, and Christ who will unmistakably return.
To cover this comprehensive text in three weeks is, to radically understate it, ambitious. But our aim is not so much to cover all the doctrines and themes Paul raises, but to explore the reality of the hope we hold in the risen Christ, and the assurance of our faith in Him.
And we are dipping into the themes as we move through the text, with the aim of whetting our appetites to seek out God's Word in our own time, reading and exploring what Paul says and pursuing more knowledge in love that builds up, rather than trying to build our faith on false knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8).
There is a great message in 1 Corinthians 15, a message I believe every Christian would want proclaimed at their funeral. Our hope is not in this present age, but in the One who has come and defeated death. So we lift our voices and yell out:
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55, quoted from Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14)
Along with the Law and the Prophets, and the Christian Church, we praise the living God for redeeming His people. We are twice His, created and bought.
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Not long after I was born, those closest to me and those my parents trusted with my life made some promises on my behalf. I had no say in it. But I trust that those who made these promises, to Almighty God, kept them. I know most, if not all, have.
I had water splashed on me, certain prayers were spoken over me to God, and I knew nothing about it.
Sixteen years later I repeated those promises, from my own mouth, to Almighty God.

• I turn to Christ.
• I repent of my sins.
• I renounce evil.
• I affirm the beliefs expressed in the words of the Apostles' Creed.
• With God's help, I will strive to keep His holy will and commandments and serve Him faithfully throughout my life.
• I affirm the truths expressed in The Catechism.

These are not New Year's resolutions. They are not sufficient for a season or while convenient. These are solemn promises made after consideration and by faith, to God our Creator and Lord.
They are only possible because Jesus first acted by becoming human and dying on the cross to enable us to enter into into relationship with Almighty God.
He has overcome evil, dealt with our sins, so we can turn to Him.
He is the God of all history, and the One who took the sin and shame from our account and paid it in full on the cross.
By the Holy Spirit we confidently look forward to living in His light, striving to live Christlike and to serve Him faithfully.
By God's revelation in Scripture we affirm His truth, and seek to understand it more, to mature in our faith and bear much fruit for His glory.
All of this takes years. And years. And years. Not just a New Year's resolution, but an eternal promise based on what God had done for us long before we knew we needed it, or even asked of it.
That's grace. That's Good News.
May we all seek to grow in our baptism and confirmation promises - and if you have never made these promises for yourself - pick up the phone and call NOW. (The number is 5439 4817).

"Is the God of the Old Testament different to the God of the New Testament"?
"How does the 'Law' of the Old Testament fit with the 'grace' of the New Testament"?
What did Jesus think about the Old Testament?

These are just some of the questions many Christians have about the Bible - let alone the other questions unbelievers have! And at the risk of repeating myself too often - I love questions!!
We are going to spend the Sundays from October 25 to Christmas looking over and hearing about the "Hebrew Hope". The 'Old Testament' of the Bible is the Hebrew Scriptures, the holy writings of the Israelites (also known as the Jews, or Hebrews, at different times and for different reasons - that's a question for another day).
And these writings, from the very beginning to the last prophecy before Christ, all pointed forward to a mighty act of God in our history. The people of God (Israel) therefore lived in hope.

This hope was fulfilled amongst some farm animals in a small town within sight of some city walls. It was the arrival of a baby boy who would forever change history, the world, and eternity.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

Now the Christians live in hope of the return of Jesus, no longer a babe in a faraway stable, but the King of kings and Lord of lords, ascended into God's eternity in glory. At His return every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Just as God's promises and His peoples' hopes have been thoroughly fulfilled in days past, we live in expectation and anticipation of 'the Day of the Lord' to reveal once and for all the truth and majesty of the kingdom of God.

stewardship
[stoo-erd-ship, styoo-]
noun
1. the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.
2. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving

We are spending three Sundays in October thinking about the many resources we have been generously given by the LORD our God, and what Scripture tells us is His expectation of their use.
Firstly we looked at Psalm 65 and the blessing of rain, from which life comes (just look at the excitement about the discovery of water on Mars and Pluto).
Then we heard about the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4 who put her two cent's worth into the Temple Treasury after the wealthy dropped in their many public offerings. Jesus noted that her heart was in the right place - in contrast to the loud givers.
Finally we look at Paul's second letter to the Corinthian Christians who were doing so well in so many ways - except in generosity... Are we falling into the same temptation? Have we already (willingly) succumbed to it?

It comes back to our point of view of what we have, and do not have.
Are we too focused on what others have, ignoring the many things we do have?
Are we stingy and ungenerous with our time, our talents, our treasure?

God has revealed His generosity in creating an ordered and 'very good' creation out of Himself. He has given us (especially in the West, in the last century) abundantly more than most other people in the world and history have ever had before.
Above all, He has opened the Way, the Truth and the Life for us to be reconciled to Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What could we possibly offer in thanksgiving that would come close to being enough? Nothing.

God has done it all. That's called grace. Unconditional love. The only thing we can offer to Him in return is humble repentance for our bad stewardship of His gifts, His Creation, and His salvation which we take for granted.
the Good News is that He is the God who is willing to forgive, and His grace is sufficient to overcome our sinfulness.

We are called to be good stewards, and a good time to understand this is when we have received many good things from Him, in the good times. By the time the difficult time begins, it is too late. So now is the time to step up to God's call to stewardship of what He has given you, and me, today.

It is with sadness and hope that I (Steve) have decided to close the Saturday Family Church service.
Firstly, to those who have prayed for, supported, attended and assisted with this congregation, we are deeply grateful.
The reality is that this service worked for a time and that season has now passed.
We have some young families coming along to our Sunday morning (9am) service, so we will make some adjustments to the 9am service to accommodate younger ears and hands.

Our commitment to ministry to young families will continue in our Holiday Program, Community Carols, and in pursuing options in 2016 for children's Christian education in the wake of the shock Victorian government axing of SRI (formerly CRE) from classrooms.
Plus we will run one-off activities that were also part of our Saturday 5pm experience, such as water fight nights, bonfires and marshmallows, and BBQ's. Stay tuned for invitations and adventures to come.

On Sunday 30th August at 9am, we will be looking at one of the 'Parables of Luke', a series that our sisters and brothers at South East Bendigo Parish are following at the moment.
The reading will be Luke 13:28-31, and I'm sure you will be familiar with it... the mustard seed grows into a great tree. The yeast leavens a whole measure of flour. What is the point? The comparison....
Jesus introduced these two illustrations with these words: "With what can I compare the kingdom of God?"

The kingdom looks humble, weak, even worthless from our perspective. Just like a tiny mustard seed amongst a thousand others in a bag. Just like a tiny ball of inert yeast in its container. But when they are given life, watch them work!
So too is the kingdom of God - it is living and vibrant, as yet unseen to the inhabitants of this world, and yet will be fully realised and known in power on the Day it is revealed to all people who have ever lived - the Day of the Lord.

Maranatha (Come, Lord Jesus!).

"Never stop asking questions". It's one of my (Steve) favourite sayings. Too often we are told to stop asking questions, to be quiet, or "that's a stupid question".

On Sunday 16th August, Karen is leading the service and the reading is quite confronting (John 6:51-59).  It leads to some serious questions about who Jesus said He was and is, what life truly is and how we are then to live. In fact, the following passage (John 6:60-69 which we will look at on August 23rd) reveals the offense taken and the division amongst His followers after He said these things.

The 'sermon' will be more informal and hard questions will be asked. There will be an opportunity for congregational members to write down and submit some of their own 'hard questions'. Often these hard questions have hard answers, other times they are simply misunderstandings or lack of knowledge. Therefore we will take up these questions, give them some serious consideration and seek to provide some thoughts, possibly even answers, in the coming months. We will advertise when these "answer" services will be on.

But I repeat - never stop asking questions. As soon as we lose the desire to know, to learn, to grow, we begin to die. And Jesus has died and rose again so that we may have life, and life to the full (John 6:63).