City Edge Church – Melbourne Australia

I am regularly bursting to say something about the most precious things in the universe – and not in any disinterested, dispassionate, composed, detached, unemotional, so-called scholarly way, but rather with total interest, warm passion, discomposure, utter attachment, and fully emotional, and I hope always, true.

John Piper
The Pastor as Scholar and The Scholar as Pastor. Reflections on Life and Ministry with D.A. Carson

Some notes from the message on Maintaining Our Spiritual Health – Sunday April 17, 2011

Preach the Gospel to yourself regularly
At Easter Jesus was condemned. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. http://bible.us/Rom8.1.ESV

The gospel or good news is not just the grace of God that saves us but it is also the grace of God that sustains us. We don’t start with the spirit and seek to perfect ourselves in the flesh – it begins and ends with the Holy Spirit leading, guiding and showing us the way.
Study Romans for the most complete understanding of the Gospel and Galatians for Paul’s personal and impassioned plea to never loose what was gained by Jesus for our benefit – the good news.

Read and study the Bible regularly
Listen to worship or uplifting music
Pray
Fast
Fellowship
- Simply being in a room with people is not fellowship.
- Find out about each other by asking questions.
- Pray for each other
Get over offenses quickly
- Forgive those who hurt you
- Pray for them
- Do good to them even if it is not returned
- Speak with them and do your best to get things cleared up
Guard your heart against all forms of pride
- Overt
- Covert
- Spiritual
Keep in good physical shape
- Rest
- Recreate
- Keep active
- Keep hydrated
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/menshealth/healthandfitness/8236039/do-you-know-the-health-benefits-of-water
Keep in good financial shape
- Prepare a budget
- Stick to your budget
- Live without a credit card if you can or keep a very small limit and try not to be tempted to increase it
- Save for your future and regular holidays
http://blog.mybudget.com.au/2011/04/manage-good-debt-minimise-bad-debt.html
Be an encourager
- Be genuine
- Initiate and don’t always wait to be encouraged
- When you think of people pray for them or txt, call or inbox them

I think people want to be magnificent. It is the job of the leader to bring out that magnificence in people and to create an environment where they feel safe and supported and ready to do the best job possible in accomplishing key goals. This responsibility is a sacred trust that should not be violated. The opportunity to guide others to their fullest potential is an honor and one that should not be taken lightly. As leaders, we hold the lives of others in our hands. These hands need to be gentle and caring and always available for support.
Ken Blanchard (Author of the One Minute Manager 1982)

This is a great video interview between Rick Mckinley, pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland Oregon and Eugene Peterson, author of “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language”.

In this interview we see a man who has learned over time that he was a pastor by gifting, ability and eventually calling, who then had to learn how to actually be a pastor.

There is some heartfelt, wise, and timely advice along with a warning or two for all of those called to pastor as well as giving those who are being pastored an insight into the challenges of this vocation.

Below is a wonderful video interview between Terry and Simon Virgo from New Frontiers on how the grace of God can be abused within church life and what the Bible says about how to correct these false views.

3d. The Gospel of Grace from Terry Virgo on Vimeo.

The Gospel falls upon man as God’s own mighty Word, questioning him down to the bottom of his being, uprooting him from his securities and satisfactions, and therefore tearing clean asunder all the relations that keep him prisoner within his own ideals in order that he may be genuinely free for God and for his wonderful new work of grace in Jesus Christ.
Karl Barth

Well 2009 has come to an end and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for making it a very special year.

The kingdom of God is on the move across the whole world and it is made up of those who have decided to follow Jesus from every tribe, tongue, nation and denomination. Each local church could be thought of as a separate vineyard within the vastness of God’s kingdom, each having its own unique vintage that includes colour, body, flavour and smell all of which should be easily recognizable and appreciated. As a church Jesus is pressing out this vintage which is made up of each of us, and includes our giftings, callings, passions, and enthusiasm. These ingredients are being blended together to create a continual supply of new wine that is to be shared with a world that is thirsty but often does not realise it.

With that in mind I want to encourage each of you that our little vineyard at City Edge is taking shape and not only is it looking good but the fruit is starting to bud in readiness for a wonderful harvest each year that lies ahead. There is a place for everyone of us in this vineyard and 2009 saw the beginnings as we started to find out what part of it that we have been called to work in. I have thoroughly enjoyed rubbing shoulders with you as we have tended the vines together.

No one puts new wine into old wineskins as both will be destroyed we need new wine in new wine skins and this year promises to be one where the new wine of the good news that is Jesus – needs to be kept in new wine skins made up of first and foremost hearing him every step of the way. Not relying on what has worked in the past or blindly importing what is working in another vineyard, but actively listening to voice of the master vine-dresser and what it is that he wants to do in his vineyard.

I want to wish you all a really fantastic 2010 and on behalf of Rhonda & Alex we are really looking forward to sharing it with all of you.