maroubra baptist

Here am I. Send me!

One of our Core Convictions is, “Mission is why The Church exists.” We see, from the Old Testament, that long before The Church came into existence, mission was on the heart of God. Mission has always been on the heart of God. We see this in the commissioning of Isaiah.

Isaiah is caught up in an amazing experience wherein he is given a glimpse of what’s going on in heaven. Let him tell the story himself.

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. ²Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: ³And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

⁶Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 

⁷With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6

In the midst of all these glorious happenings in heaven, God’s chief concern was, “Who will take the message to the people of earth? Who will speak on behalf of heaven?” Then Isaiah responded with words that were obviously music to God’s ears. “Here am I. Send me!”

God has commissioned us to tell the message also, in our day. Are we just as willing to put our hand up as Isaiah was? When we are eager to respond, God is even more eager to use us. As soon as Isaiah volunteered, God said, “Go and tell this people…” (v9). That moment of loving response marks the beginning of our incredible partnership with God wherein we work together towards achieving our mission of “transforming people into fully devoted followers of Jesus.”

Our purpose

In Philippians 3:12, Paul says, I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

We know, from Paul’s testimony, that there was a time when he wanted anything but what Christ wanted for him. However, when Christ took hold of Paul, it became a different story.  Even though God had to use extreme measures to take hold of him, once he was captured, Paul was transformed into someone who wanted nothing but  what Christ wanted for him.

My testimony is similar to Paul’s. Maybe yours too. When Christ takes hold of us, he does so for a specific purpose and, at the same time, he transforms our mind so that we begin to realise how great that purpose is. Once we realise it, we say, with Paul, “I press on to take hold of it... that is, the purpose for which Christ took hold of me.”

And the more we begin to fulfill Christ’s purpose for us, the more fulfilled we become ourselves because we are doing what we were made for. And our transformed mind realises that we were made for eternity. Therefore, we start to see things differently because we realise that our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20.

With that in mind, we join Paul in saying, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Phillipians 3:14.

Paul then becomes very direct and says, All of us who are mature should take such a view of things, Philippians 3:15, and join with others in following my example. Philippians 3:17.

In other words, find out what it is that Christ took hold of us for (our purpose) and go for it with all our might.

Discipleship Seminar - 5 Sept

All welcome.

Our church’s mission is “to be partners with God in transforming people into fully devoted followers of Jesus.” This involves introducing people to Jesus (Evangelism) and building them up in their relationship with Jesus (Discipleship). The two go together. We can’t have one without the other.

It is our firm belief that, when we are ready to care for people as God wants them cared for, He’ll send them along.

Therefore, as an act of faith, we are going to prepare for these new disciples by learning how to look after them, once they do come in.

We are very excited about holding our first Discipleship Seminar. Harry Leesment, from Paradise Community Church in Adelaide, will be our guest facilitator.

The Seminar Registration fee is $20 per person, which includes the cost of the excellent Counselor Training Manual - the basic text for the Seminar.

Please bring your own lunch or take advantage of the many local cafes or shops. Our local Thai
place has a lunch time special of $8.80 including drink, which we expect that a group of us might like to try.

Please let Grace Chan (9349 7973) or Bec Tanidis (0425 265 742) know ASAP if you are able to attend. Email graceamazing@exemail.com.au or bec8731@hotmail.com

A hearty men's breakfast / 1st Sat of each month

A breakfast for men is held on the first Saturday of each month at Maroubra Beach. 

All men welcome on Sat 12 Sep at 8.30am, Maroubra Beach, behind the Dressing Sheds. Breakfast provided. Please bring $5 donation towards cost. Mike Day will share a few words and everyone will share lots of good fellowship. Please let Joel know that you are coming in order to assist with catering numbers. Joel Hawkins 0424 378 360

Getaway 2009 - nearly booked out

There are only 3 remaining units available for our weekend getaway to Wollongong on Friday 30th & Saturday 31st October. These self contained units with your own bathroom and kitchen are only $110 for the whole weekend. Meals for the weekend cost $55 (adults), $40 (children 10-12), $26 (children 5-9). Kids under 5 eat for free! 

This is a great weekend of fun, relaxation and inspiration. Don’t miss out! For enquiries and bookings contact Deb on 9344 3887 or debbie@ddobj.net

Turn the other cheek

As I recently read 1 Corinthians 4:12-13, I was arrested by the lovely Christ-like attitude of Paul and his companions. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. 

Paul is being a great model here of the principle that Jesus taught of returning good for evil. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile rather than to act unlovingly or unkindly or in a way that upsets the harmony within Christ’s Body, the Church.

Just two chapters later, in the same letter, Paul says to people who were in dispute with each other, Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 1 Corinthians 6:7. It’s not nice to be wronged or cheated but God is saying through Paul that there are higher issues at stake than our personal rights, namely harmony and unity amongst believers.

In Ephesians 4:3, Paul says, Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Making every effort must naturally include what Paul modeled for us above; to bless when we are cursed and to answer kindly when we are slandered.

God, who sees the big picture, teaches us that being wronged and cheated is not so bad, especially when it happens because of Christ. In that case, what we suffer here is far surpassed by the reward we get in heaven for enduring the suffering without retaliation.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:11-12