The Open Hand: Christian Giving 15 Nov 09

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 11 November 2009

The Open Hand

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. Ps145.15,16

Giving! It must be one of the most sensitive issues in church life. Appeals for money can stir up congregations like an intruder in an ant nest. "The church is always after money," some say. Even the core members can start feeling defensive when money is the topic. But discussions about giving do not have to start arguments. They could start a revival. Christian giving is a blessing.

Giving is one of God's favourite subjects. It is also an exciting subject. There are riches in this subject that are much greater than money. Giving takes us to the heart of being a Christian. It also brings us up against a very powerful idol.

The End of Death

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Death and Resurrection of Christ; Created: 04 November 2009

The End of Death (Genesis 1-3 1 Corinthians 15)

[This sermon is also available in MP3 format here.]

I want to ask a question about one of the things that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15.13-14.

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain." NRSV

What is so important about the resurrection that without it the message is useless or vain? Why is it, that if the resurrection did not happen, the gospel is of no use whatsoever? Why is the resurrection the central thing?

Anti-climax? 1 Nov 09

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 28 October 2009

Anti-climax?

The so called “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem has become a famous story – re-enacted each Palm Sunday with much noise and celebration. But it has also become self-contained. A kind of isolated episode not really connected with anything.

One of the reasons is that it appears to be a kind of anti-climax. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem after all the fanfare, and then looks around and goes back to Bethany. He doesn’t do anything when he gets there. And even the next day there is no great event. He has a little demo in the Temple and stops proceedings for a while, but nothing changes and then he goes back to Bethany again.

Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Evangelism and Mission; Created: 26 October 2009

Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City: Are we up to it?

"Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City" is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer

One of the questions I have often pondered is how the church can grow in a mega-city? There are plenty of people for sure. In some ways the modern city is like the first city of refuge, Babel, in that it is a place where people congregate for their security and livelihood. But mega-cities are at the same time scattered places. Distance, the tyranny of traffic, the isolation of high rise apartments, and the ubiquitous security defences tend to separate rather then bring people together.

How could the church grow in such an environment? With difficulty, is the short answer. The external and internal constraints are great. But before I get too far ahead of myself, some will ask why does the church need to grow? And which church are we talking about?

Helping the poor 25 Oct 09

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 25 October 2009

Helping the poor

How does one help a beggar? Bartimaeus for example, or Lazarus who lay at the rich man’s gate? Lazarus (Lk16) could have been easy to help – he just wanted some food. And maybe some medicines. Usually beggars want money – to buy food to keep alive.

Those of us who have never been a beggar or had much to do with beggars can have a romantic picture of them. The modern picture is not very nice. Protection rackets, gang organised begging, turf wars, quite apart from the intervention of any authorities, are part of the reality in the developing world.

John Rowell: To Give or not to Give?

Details: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Book Reviews; Created: 20 October 2009

Book Review:

To Give or not to Give? Rethinking dependency, Restoring generosity, & Redefining Sustainability

by John Rowell, published by Authentic Publishing, Atlanta. 2006. 253 pages of text plus Bibliography. ISBN 978 1 932805 86 4

At one level this book challenges the "three-self" paradigm of modern mission practice (self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating). But it does so in a global context in which the author describes the rich western churches deciding not give generously to new churches in poorer countries in case they become dependent. At another level it is about giving and generosity. The discussion is set in a mission context. The author has been working together with Bosnian Christians to see churches planted in that war-torn country.

Look up and Look out 18 Oct 2009

Details: Written by: Dale; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 15 October 2009

Look up and Look out

18 Oct 2009

Did you know that Church Council has been contributing 10 percent of our giving to seven mission groups? ABM, CMS, BCA, CCE, Indian Inland Mission, Kokstad, and Sonshine FM. Since the beginning of May we have sent more than $3,000 to these groups.

Is it worth while contributing to such groups? They always say they appreciate our donations of course, but is it helpful to us?: Would we be better off using the money here in Willetton? Are we giving just because we ought to?

I suppose one of the reasons for giving to groups like these is because we think they are doing something that the Lord has his hand in – and we want to have a share in it (like the Macedonians mentioned in 2 Cor 8).

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