Pastor’s Message

This week, two news items have caught my attention. The first was about shark bites. Incidents of sharks biting humans are incredibly rare, but at least three influencers have been bitten by the animals in less than a year.

Scientists say they're increasingly concerned about the rise in social media videos showing people swimming too close to sharks, touching or even riding them. In the one incident I looked at, the shark literally clamps its jaws round the woman's upper thighs for a few minutes before letting go. Thankfully, it was a nurse shark, and they tend to be less lethal, so she survived. Others have not.

The second incident, which is more horrifying, is people driving on the opposite side of the road for social media challenges and stunts. All five teenagers in a car on the opposite side of the road in Ireland died, while three ladies and a child were left in critical condition. This is not the first incident of that type in recent times.

I read these stories with a sense of sadness and questions in my head. When did we get to the point where searching for relevance makes us put ourselves and, more alarmingly, others in physical danger and, in some cases, death? What have we come to as a people if all we think about is the eyeballs that we can satisfy with our “out of this world” stunts? This issue goes even deeper.

If you are a millennial or a baby boomer, you have grown up watching technology make your life better. Starting with cell phones, iPads and computers, our lives have become better, and our problems can be solved with the touch of a button. Everything is now an app, from ordering food to booking a child's delivery.

Unfortunately, everything flipped. The apps we rely on have made us slaves, and we are fully addicted. Work follows you everywhere, and people who look and sound better than you are telling you how to live your life. Never mind that you didn’t ask them, and their advice only covers a specific type of person. Don’t even get me started on the manosphere, which you are not one of.

We have machines to make our lives easier, but we are more exhausted and frustrated, and in the cases mentioned above, we try and find relevance any way we can, even if it might kill us.

Perhaps scripture was right all along when Paul in Romans describes a degenerated community.

But scripture was also right in finding the solution. Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them how and where to find life.

Have a seek of trusting in the Shepherd who laid down his life for you!

Mato.

Last Sunday, we concluded Ephesians 4, on practical Christian living. Here are some takeaways for us…

The first few verses describe what happens when we live for ourselves. We become futile, i.e., we only think about ourselves. Then we get a darkened understanding, i.e., we cannot see beyond what favours us. We make statements like 'What's in it for me?' That sounds like a you problem! And finally, our hearts are hardened. Paul uses a medical term meaning the callus that forms when a bone has fractured and been reset. It becomes even stronger than before.

However, that’s not how we live. We should put on Christ the way we put on new clothes. There must be a break from the past. Jesus does not add to our old life; he gives us a new one.

Not about facts and head knowledge, but a transformation of the heart. Paul leads the Ephesian congregation back to the cross that brings unity. A unity that transcends generations, family curses and bad choices. A unity that brings life and flourishing 

This week, we move on to Ephesians ch. 5

This week, the focus was on the good Shepherd. “I am the good Shepherd," and how good he is to the sheep. 

Now you know five I AMs.

I am the light of the world, and I am the bread of life. I am the gate, I am the good shepherd, and I am the sheep.

How is your challenge to learn the rest going? We may have to make you dance as a way of learning. (What’s the next I am?)

Youth ministry

The youth are studying Philippians this term. We are looking at the central part of Philippians 2, the humility of Christ. As we continue in Philippians, we encourage them to memorise Philippians 4. It’s a beautiful and impactful passage. It is also upward (looks to God) and outward (considers the neighbour) and inward (challenges the individual). It's practical Christian living and very applicable in all our situations of life. Therefore, in addition to learning the “I AM's" here, Philippians 4:4-9.

Zeke & Danielle have shared an August update on their ministry work in Fiji. We at HCC support the pair as ministry partners, and you can read their ministry update here (and also sign up on that page for future updates).

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the mid-winter Christmas and to those who came along as well. There is more coming up in our church calendar this second part of the year. Join us in prayer as we make plans and hope to do outreach with these events.

Community events 

Christmas programme 

HCC events 

Giving

Halswell Community Church

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