Christ Community Church - Brisbane

God, Actually with Roy Williams

susananddavid — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:31:53 +0000

Hear Roy Williams, author of God, Actually, on his unlikely discovery of God, the writing of his book, and his intriguing view on Christianity and politics.

When: Wednesday 31st March, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Venue: Zenbar, Post Office Square, Adelaide St, Brisbane

Cost: $16, includes canapes. (Purchase own drinks.)

RSVP: Monday 29th March

More information:

Call (07) 3225 0306

www.citybibleforum.org/images/stories/brisbane/god_actually.pdf

Uni Impact Kicks Off!

susananddavid — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:10:28 +0000

Uni Impact is the specific ministry of Christ Community Church to university students. We seek to “Love Jesus, Love People, Build Leaders” by meeting together for social events, small group Bible studies, training events and more. Becoming involved with Impact is a great way for uni students to connect with each other and grow in relationship with Jesus together.

There’s lots of exciting ways you can get involved!

Check out our website for details www.uni-impact.com.au

All uni students are invited to a free lunch after church on Sunday 7^th & 14^th March as a way to get to know one another and Christ Community a little better. Please join us!

Panning for Gold on Sabbatical (Rich and Cherie)

susananddavid — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:43:40 +0000

Last October, Cherie and I took our three kids and an enormous amount of luggage to New Zealand for two months of long service leave. Such a unique time in our lives! Yes, we did see a lot of beautiful places, and took plenty of photos. We also took away some more precious things that are well worth sharing.

The question I most got asked before we left was, ‘So what are you going to do with your time?’ I asked myself the same question a lot, but eventually realised that maybe that’s not the right question. Good rest is just as much, maybe more about what you don’t do, what you rest from, what you stop doing. Kind of like panning for gold (we stayed a while in Queenstown, once a big goldrush area). How they got the gold was not by picking it out, but by removing everything else, all the superfluous rocks and dirt. The gold is what’s left at the end.

So what gold did we find? Apart from rare quantity time with Cherie and the kids in a chaotic season of life, three nuggets were simplicity, identity, beauty. As for the first two, I was never sure why, but it always seemed to me that the people who best grasp God’s love are those who know how to be still. We tasted something of why that is. Being away from all the things that can drive my priorities and make me busy, I realised more that my significance and worth aren’t wrapped up in what I do, but in the love the Father and His Son Jesus have for me. As for beauty, there are places over there that take your breath away. Sometimes you get this strange feeling like you’re coming home. That longing for home isn’t a longing to live in New Zealand. It’s a longing for our home in the new heaven and earth, where beauty will be the air we breathe in a perfect world and in the presence of Jesus, the source of it all. That’s the home we truly long for, the ultimate rest.

It says in Hebrews 4, ‘Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.’ Seems a bit paradoxical. But since coming back to Australia and getting back into the fast-flowing river of work and everything else, by God’s grace I feel more ready than ever to do exactly that.

Community Teams are ramping up!

susananddavid — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:59:34 +0000

Community teams are groups of people from Christ Community who have committed to encourage one another in the Christian faith. They meet in different homes around the city during the week. They typically share a meal together as well as discuss the Bible and practically help one another understand what it means to follow Jesus.

Community teams are the central means of Christ Community Church fulfilling its purpose of enjoying and declaring God’s grace in Christ for the good of Brisbane, Australia, and the world. Involvement at Christ Community is primarily seen through one’s involvement in a community team and the relationships that form from them.

Community teams will begin meeting mid-February. Contact Shane Becker (shane@beckertribe.com) for more information.

God gave us Lily! (Pete and Carly Bradbury)

susananddavid — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:18:29 +0000

Dad’s thoughts…

In the first few days of life there are a number of ‘firsts’. First meal, first bath, first dirty nappy… However the one which really stood out to me as a brand new father was the first time Lily fell asleep. Lily arrived almost 3 weeks earlier than expected and so it wasn’t until an hour or two after the chaos of the birth that I finally had the chance to reflect on the tiny miracle with which God had blessed us. Carly had just drifted off to sleep for a well earned rest and our baby girl was delicately perched in my arms. As she lay there, gazing at me with those big innocent eyes I felt an intense desire to pray. I remember asking God to bless her by opening her heart to know Jesus. I also prayed for His wisdom, love and graciousness to flow through Carly and I to our daughter. As I spoke to God I realised that Lily was slowly falling asleep. Her first ever sleep… in the arms of her father! All at once I was struck by the enormity of being a Dad. It was now Carly and my responsibility to care for, to nurture, to discipline and to love this little girl. At that instant I was more thankful than ever before that in God we have a loving father who is both an example and confidant to guide us and lead us through all of life’s challenges, including fatherhood! So I gladly join Joshua in the great refrain: “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15).

Mum’s thoughts…

After 3 years of Peter telling me that I don’t cope well with change, I think I am now ready to admit to it. To be honest I’m glad Lily came 3 weeks early because it didn’t even give me a chance to start thinking and stressing about giving birth – suddenly I was in the middle of it and there was no going back. What followed was a whirlwind of moving from one step of the process to another. It wasn’t until that first evening, after our family had left and we were trying to get to sleep that I started to reflect on what had just occurred. I suddenly realised that this new baby was completely dependent on me – I was her life line, her source of food and comfort. Thoughts of ‘I can’t do this’ and ‘I’m not ready’ filled my head. But just as I had earlier in the day I turned to God and remembered that just as Lily was dependent on me, I was completely dependent on our heavenly Father. And no matter how under-prepared I felt, He is completely dependable, loves both me and Lily and would give me the strength to be all I needed to be for her. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed as much as I have in the last few weeks (feeding an infant every 2 to 3 hours gives you an amazing amount of thinking time), but I feel secure in the knowledge that I am not alone and don’t have to worry because “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Ponting did what?!?!

susananddavid — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:51:14 +0000

If you follow cricket you would know that the Aussie cricket world was dirty on Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first in the Australia vs. Pakistan test. Australia won the toss with the option to bat or bowl. The pitch was apparently “green as a frog” and ripe for wickets but Ponting chose to bat. The result? Australia all out for 127, the lowest score on home soil for 13 years. Ouch!

Ponting was summarily taken to task for his decision. Former test opener Michael Slater, former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson, numerous fans, and even the ground curator piled on poor Ricky. Keep in mind that Ricky Ponting is Australia’s test cricket’s most successful skipper. I guess performance and results, not history, matter in the cricket community.

Performance matters in most communities. I once was part of an ultimate disk (frisbee) club that played games against other teams. I dropped a perfect frisbee pass that would have been for a score and was never thrown to again. No, I didn’t pout, but you have to admit that’s a tough standard!

What’s different about Christian community? What about Christ Community? Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Life Together says, “Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us. Christian brotherhood is a spiritual and not a human reality. In this is differs from all other communities.” What binds Christians together is not race, education, income levels, or politics. What is common among us, and what makes us into a community, is that we’ve each been loved by Jesus. As a result we love one another for Jesus’ sake.

Our love for one another is not based on performance nor is it withheld because of a blunder or even a sin. The gospel of grace moves us to live in grace with one another. Bonhoeffer goes on to say,

I must release the other person from every attempt of mine to regulate, coerce, and dominate him with my love. I must leave him his freedom to be Christ’s [not mine.] Human love constructs its own image of the other person, of what he is and what he should become. It takes the life of the other person into its own hands. Spiritual love will meet the other person with the clear Word of God and be ready to leave him alone with this Word for a long time, willing to release him again in order that Christ may deal with him. Human love produces human dependence and constraint; spiritual love lives in the clear light of service and creates freedom. From the first moment when a man meets another person he is looking for a strategic position he can assume over against that person. It is vitally necessary that every Christian face this danger squarely and eradicate it.

The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. As love to God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for others is learning to listen to them. It can be greater service than speaking. There’s an impatient, inattentive listening that despises, only waiting for a chance to speak.

The second service is that of active helpfulness. This means, initially, simple assistance in trifling, external matters. We must allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps reading the Bible.

We speak, third, of the service of bearing others. It is only in bearing with my brother that the great grace of God becomes wholly plain. To cherish no contempt for the sinner but rather to prize the privilege of bearing him means to be able to accept him, to preserve fellowship with him through forgiveness.

Where Christians live together the time must inevitably come when in some crisis one person will have to declare God’s Word to another. It is unchristian consciously to deprive another of the one decisive service we can render to him….We admonish one another to go the way that Christ bids us to go. We are gentle and severe….

“Confess your faults to one another” (James 5:16.) He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everyone must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship, living in lies and hypocrisy. But it is the grace of the Gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that says: “You’re a sinner, a great desperate sinner. Now come, as the sinner that you are, to the God who loves you”….A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person.

What a wonderful thing it is to live in grace with one another. What an ugly thing it is when the Christian community reflects the cricket, frisbee, or some similar community.

Lord Jesus, give us a deep knowledge and experience of your love so we may love one another as you have loved us. Make Christ Community into a community that reflects all you desire for your church. For your glory and our good. Amen.

By grace alone,

David Cunningham

david@christcommunity.org.au

International Lunch

susananddavid — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:21:25 +0000

Just arrived in Australia? Looking for connections, friends, some support or just a chat about your experiences? You are more than welcome to come to our international lunch. We would love to meet you, support you with migration issues and introduce you into the Australian lifestyle.

When: 1st Sunday of each month after the 10 AM church service

Where: Different locations/homes around Brisbane

More info: Ask Remko or Eline, (elineveenstra@hotmail.com) (phone: 0410 609 371)

Christ Community West begins!

susananddavid — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:49:14 +0000

Christ Community has started another church in the Western suburbs of Brisbane!

Christ Community West (www.christcommunitywest.org.au) has been going since August 16. Visit their website for all the relevant details.

Sin overkill? (Milli Szabo)

susananddavid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:41:16 +0000

When I found out that we were covering the topic of sin at Christ Community I thought, great, its a topic that is so relevant and unanimously applicable to our lives. But when I looked at the schedule on the CCC website and saw that we were doing 9 weeks of sin, I thought ‘Dave, WHAT are you thinking?!!’. 9 weeks of sin? That’s a bit overkill isn’t it, I mean, I had been to numerous sermons about sin and thought I pretty well had it covered. What more could there possibly be to it?

Well, I guess I was wrong (yes, I admit it).

The series we’ve been doing on sin and mercy has really opened my eyes and helped me to better understand not only what sin is, but how it works in our hearts and minds, and what that actually looks like. I mean, I knew I was a sinner, but I hadn’t really thought about it at a deeper level –such as the root causes of sin in my heart and the process with which it would just manifest itself and take control of my whole mind, thoughts, feelings, and actions. And it happens all so, so easily….

So I started thinking more about my sin, and why it sourced from the same issues and weak points? I knew from the sermons that I had to dig deeper. Not only looking at why I was thinking or feeling or doing the things I was, but also what was and is the underlying cause. Once I actually stopped to analyse it, and found out it was not pretty. I could really see how sin was manipulating the tactic of temptation and deception in my mind and my heart to convince me that it was better than Jesus. Simple really, but so true and the consequences so devastating!

But if the story stopped there, I might as well have given up there. But luckily for me, the story doesn’t stop there. I’ve realised that no matter how overwhelming and powerful sin can be in my life, the ONLY way out of its firm and sometimes debilitating grip is the person of Jesus. Seeking His love, forgiveness and surrendering myself completely to his Lordship. And holding on to His promises of His love, goodness and ultimate security. And not just once, but again and again and again….for as many times that it takes….

These last couple of months have definitely made me more self aware of my own battles, knowing where my weak points and trigger points are and trying to actively give these over to the God before the temptation gives way. And although I had known about God’s grace, and thought I had understood it, its only been very recently that I’ve actually learnt to consciously rely on it and ask for it to get me through the times of temptation and weakness, throughout the whole day. And I know that its available freely and abundantly to me. How awesome and liberating is that?

So while I’m conscious that my battle with sin is far from over, I’m convinced that a greater knowledge of its workings within me is ammunition for the fight against it…and I know that the only way to win is to be fully dependent on Jesus, wholeheartedly and continually!

Thanks Dave and CCC for a great reminder of these truths over the last 9 weeks!

Milli

What sort of job do I want??? (Hannah Armstrong)

susananddavid — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:27:49 +0000

So as the academic year starts to wind up at UQ, my time at university is also coming to an end. After spending the last 5 years in Brisbane it is a scary thought to think that in a couple of months I will be packing up, relocating and stating a new life somewhere else. But God has been so faithful in preparing a path for me, that I know it is the right step to take.

Earlier in the year I took some time away (with my dear friend Pippa Kuchel), for a “Prayer and Priorities” retreat. The purpose of this time was to pray about and write some guidelines down (in accordance with my priorities) for what I wanted in a job next year. The idea behind this is that I wanted to make sure that the LORD was guiding me and that I wasn’t tempted into taking a job that would just be ‘easy’ or ‘comfortable’. So here is the list with the attached priority and reasoning.

Somewhere 2- 6 hrs drive from my parents (they live in Ayr, just south of Townsville) – The purpose being so I can visit them more regularly and love, serve and honour them.
In a small town (between 2 000 and 25 000 people) – The purpose being so I can get to know lots of different people on an intimate level and in doing so be a witness for Christ to them.
A clinic NOT open on Sunday- The purpose being so I can go to church and have a day off.
A well supported clinic with supportive staff – The purpose being to encourage my professional development so I can practice the best veterinary medicine and surgery that I am capable of.
Shared after hours/on-call – The purpose being so I can get involved in lots of different groups in the community and get some time away from work.
Some component of large animal (especially cattle) work – The purpose being so I can get to know and serve some of the farmers on the outskirts of town and be a witness to them by helping them improve their farms.
A pay package of no less than $ 45 000 per year – The purpose being so I can generously support the local church as well as Dan and Matt as they commit to going on staff with Uni Impact.

Just this week, God answered my prayers and has provided me with a job that fits all these criteria. The clinic is just south of Mackay in a town called Sarina. Though I haven’t signed on the ‘dotted line’ yet, the clinic has expressed a very keen interest in having me and is flying me up there for a couple of days on the 29^th of September. If all goes well, I’ll be signing the contract then! I am excited to see how God will work through all these different avenues and how that will grow my faith next year.

Hannah Armstrong