4W. At last the Spirit Acts 2.1-13
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=249}
At last the Spirit Acts 2.1-13
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 8 July 2012
How God fulfills his promises by restoring Israel by pouring out his Spirit on his new prophets who remind Israel of God's great deeds. The disciples' job is to do as they are told and to keep on living under the rule of the Spirit.
New congregations: The story so far 8 July 12
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
New congregations: The story so far
We have been thinking, praying, and talking about starting two new congregations since around Easter. Our beginning question was: “How can we win more people for Christ and allow more people to become part of Christ the King church?”
Part of the reason for thinking of making two congregations from the one, is the well known research that says that when a building is 80% full it is practically full. Our own statistics show that the 9am congregation has averaged around 70 – 80 attenders for most of its life.
The question we are asking now is whether this is the time to start two congregations instead of the present 9am congregation. So far, the survey we did, the discussion at the Annual Meeting and the subsequent conversations, have indicated that if we were to do this the best times would be 8.30am and 10.00am. And if we went ahead September might be a good time to start.
3W. Restoring Israel and the nations Acts 1.6-11
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=250}
Restoring Israel and the nations Acts 1.6-11
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 1 July 2012
How is Jesus restoring the Kingdom to Israel? By witnesses with power; and by us secondary witnesses with power.
New congregations? 1 July 12
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
New congregations?
Soon after Easter we began thinking, talking, and praying about whether we should launch two new congregations out of the one morning congregation we have now. We have conducted a survey, had a very helpful discussion at the Annual Meeting, and more recently had a series of conversations over morning tea after church.
What does the Lord want us to do? Lots of people have put forward good ideas, concerns, and questions, expressed their enthusiasm, doubt, wisdom and encouragement.
It seems that we have got to a general consensus that if we were to go ahead, two congregations meeting at 8.30am and 10.00am would be the way to go. Whether we have sufficient agreement to go ahead is yet to be determined.
2W. What Jesus began to do Acts 1.1-5
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Acts
{podcast id=251}
What Jesus began to do Acts 1.1-5
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 24 June 2012
Volume 2 of Luke's writing takes us into what Jesus continued to do. Before he continued he spent six intense weeks preparing three areas of the apostles' understanding: he is alive; he is king, and they are to wait for the gift of the Spirit.
The goodness of having no control 24 June 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
The goodness of having no control
What would it be like to live in a world where we have no control? To have no power. To be not allowed near the steering wheel. Not very nice? Frustrating? A recipe for high blood pressure and lots of anxiety?
It might depend on whether anyone was in control, and, if someone was, who it was. Sometimes we are grateful enough if things seem to be under control, if the regular pattern of things is undisturbed, peaceful, going along as usual.
Our world – ah there’s a term – the world in which we live – it is not really our world - is not under our control. Little bits of it may be from time to time. And we may wish we had more of a say in how it works, even take assertive action to wrestle bits of it into submission. But overall it is not under our control.
Where to find friends 17 June 12
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Where to find friends
A few weeks ago I attended a seminar in the church where I was made deacon (St Edmund's Wembley) 39 years ago. Although I was ordained here in Perth, I grew up in Sydney. I remember arriving, newly married, on the train into Perth and looking at all the houses along the railway line and thinking how scary it will be to start ministering among them.
It has been scary. And exciting. And frustrating. And mystifying. And growing. And sad. And wonderful.
I have been involved in at least five major building projects in different parishes, and so have learnt bits and pieces of architecture, engineering, building, local government law, politics, and so on (oh, and finding money too). All very interesting.
Of much more importance, I have been involved in the lives of lots of people. Some of them I first met as unbelievers. Some I met as experienced and committed believers. Some were not sure what they were. Quite a few had messed up lives. In this job, one does not get to choose one’s friends.
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