Weekend Away Talks

Unfortunately the outlines haven't moved in the last few days but I did get some books from the Moore College library to keep me thinking.
I've also got a 2,000 word exegetical on Titus 1 due next Friday so it's going to be hectic.
Here is the text of Titus 1.

What do you think are the big ideas in this chapter?
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you- 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

I'll give my thoughts tomorrow (hopefully!).

The Holy Spirit - Part 1

So after a day of reading and discussing how to communicate the Holy Spirit here is what I have so far. There are 4 talks. Talks 1 & 2 are really one LONG talk :)

The Spirit connects us to Jesus - Part 1
Big Idea: The Spirit connects us to the work of Jesus

1. Clearing the floor
a) Understanding the Holy Spirit within the Trinity
b) The inseperable nature of Word and Spirit
c) The Spirit in the Old & New Testaments
d) The Spirit (ual) Fulfilment

2. Connecting to Jesus
a) The art of connecting
b) The work of the Spirit is faith
c) Faith and the work of the Spirit

3. The strength of the connection
a) Why it is really strong
b) Why it is sometimes weak

The Spirit connects us to Jesus - Part 2
Big Idea: Exploring the nature of the connection in relation to doubt and assurance
(Don't want to give too much away before the weekend!)

1. If we are connected to Jesus, why do we doubt?


2. If we the Spirit connects us to Jesus we have great assurance!


The Spirit gives us new life - Part 3

The Spirit gives us a great deposit - Part 4

More to come on part 3 & 4 hopefully tomorrow.

Love to hear your thoughts.

The Holy Spirit

June 25-27 is our evening church weekend away. I have given myself a big task. I am speaking about the person of the Holy Spirit and looking to specifically apply it to the issues of doubt and assurance.

I have 3 statements and looking for any feedback, good illustrations to blatantly steal, any articles worth reading, etc.

Here are my three statements.

1. The Holy Spirit unites us to the work of Jesus

Thinking specifically in this talk about the benefits of union with Christ.

2. The Holy Spirit gives us new life (regeneration)

In this talk working over why we need new life and the joy of being regenerate.

3. The Holy Spirit is a deposit/seal

Talking about getting the Spirit which is something that belongs to the new age.

Got anything for me?

Out with the old and in with the new

Yes, yes I know this blog has been severely neglected for the last 10months. Partly it lacked purpose. Thanks to Mr Purpose himself, Tom!

BUT I have been thinking about how to revamp it in a helpful way.

And it starts tonight!!!

Part of what we do at Sunday at 6 (http://www.norwestanglican.org.au/) is fill in a communication card. And I encourage people to write questions they have from the talk or questions about things they have been reading either from the Bible or from a Christian book.

So, when people write a question - I will answer their question/s here.

This is my plan and it is my plan to stick to my new plan ... it's not an evil plan to take over the world but maybe, just maybe......