faith

THOMAS AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS (Mar 7, 2016)

Jim McClure
Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, highlights a crucial point about accepting Christ’s resurrection.

Thomas was not with the other disciples on Easter evening when Jesus appeared to them.

It would be pointless to speculate as to the reason for his absence, but in a sense it was well that he was not because when he eventually saw the Risen Christ, he made one of the most powerful confessions of faith to be found in the New Testament. ‘My Lord and my God’ (John 20:28). (more…)

IS GOD REAL? (Mar 7, 2016)

Brian Bell 2016Brian Bell mediates on the above oft-asked question.

Confessed atheist Richard Dawkins is well-known for his book The God Delusion. But is Dawkins right? Are Christians who believe in God deluded?

God’s word clearly says we should be always ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within us. But this doesn’t mean we’ll be able to give an answer to satisfy the mind and heart of people who choose not to believe! (Remember Hebrews 11:6 NLT: ‘Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him’). (more…)

CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH – PART 5

Jim McClureDr Jim McClure, noted theologian, writes about three more current dangers …

‘Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.’ (1 John 4:1).

John wrote this letter towards the end of the 1st century. It is interesting to note that although the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church on the day of Pentecost had taken place less than 70 years earlier, already Christians had to be warned to be on their guard against the infiltration of false teaching and false ideas. (more…)

THE VERY CENTRE OF KINGDOM LIFE – SEEING KIDS’ POTENTIAL

Maureen McQuillanMaureen McQuillan reflects that it’s that time when we recall the events of the first two chapters of both Matthew and Luke regarding the incarnation.

Many came looking for the one destined to be the Saviour of the world. Doubtlessly those who discovered the babe of Bethlehem were overwhelmed and wondered in their heart how his future would develop as he grew up and what would happen to the child. (more…)

RAISED BY GAY PARENTS, HE SHOCKED THEM BY BECOMING A CHRISTIAN – AND A PASTOR

Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis shares a great story of God’s love and grace …

When he was two-years-old his university-professor parents divorced and his father and mother entered the gay lifestyle. His lesbian mom and her partner took him to gay pride parades, LGBT clubs, parties and campouts, while his father remained ‘closeted’ for several years.

‘Mom was a political activist,’ says Caleb Kaltenbach, author of Messy Grace (Waterbrook Press). At gay pride parades, Caleb witnessed Christian demonstrators spray homosexual marchers with water and urine. When he asked his mom why they were doing this, she said, ‘Because Christians hate gay people.’ (more…)

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A PHYSICAL BIOCHEMIST

Ron ChatlierScientist Ron Chatelier shares…

In some ways my life started when I was 14. When I was a teenager, the good news about Jesus Christ was presented in a very direct and clear manner. It was as simple as ABC…

A: Admit that you are a sinner and need God’s help.
B: Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he loves you and died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and that he rose again from the dead.
C: Confess that Jesus is Lord, and then do what he says. (more…)

EVANGELISTIC PREACHING

Murray CapillDr Murray Capill, author and Reformed Theology College’s principal, writes…

All biblical preaching should be gospel preaching. But some gospel preaching is specifically evangelistic. That is to say, some preaching particularly aims at presenting the gospel to unbelievers as clearly, accurately and winsomely as possible, so that they might be saved. (more…)

LEANNE’S JOURNEY: ‘WITHOUT TREATMENT – ONLY TWO MONTHS TO LIVE!’

Maureen McQuillan( September 9, 2015) Maureen McQuillan shares an encouraging testimony given this month by a remarkably bright (literally small) little lady:

Leanne John’s journey inspires Christians to trust God for everything, even in life’s dark moments.

Assisted to the platform the immaculately dressed little lady turned to immediately hold the Highton congregation of Moolop and Barrabool Hills Baptist Church mesmerised as she glanced around to tell of her recent encounters with our miracle-working God. (more…)

MESOTHELIOMA HEALING MIRACLE FROM GOD

Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis shares an amazing story of God’s miraculous power …

Leon Freitag thought he had a stubborn case of bronchitis, but when he couldn’t make it up a staircase without stopping to catch his breath, he knew something wasn’t right.

‘My wife Diane said to go to a doctor and he discovered I had mesothelioma,’ says the superintendent of the North Dakota district of the Assemblies of God Church. (more…)

FAITH AND DOUBT

Dr Robert & Maureen (2)
Robert and Maureen McQuillan raise a relevant nitty-gritty point:

Two interesting words – faith and doubt…they come up again and again in scripture, church life, conversations between Christians. And they’re used in a number of ways in sermons, especially ones intent on challenging where we really are as ‘faithful non-doubting’ followers of Jesus.

Both are action words – faith speaks of positive action, doubt of negative activity.

In general chatting with some Christians or in counselling, one can so easily wonder ‘Where are they at? Where are they coming from? They don’t seem to be able to really trust Jesus let alone his word. With all this negativity, where is their faith?’ (more…)