February 1, 2012
Real Faith…Certain Faith: AM Series
It’s been said that what people today really want is certainty. They want something that offers stability, security, safety…..something solid upon which to build their lives.
With financial institutions failing, political systems faltering and families crumbling, there is a great need for confidence. And with attacks on Christianity and the credibility of the church in 2012, many Christians today are likewise experiencing a crisis of belief. Am I really a Christian? Have I been kidding myself? How do I know? Can I be sure?
The book of 1 John is written against a similar backdrop, to remind Christians of the essentials of their faith and to reassure them …..”so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). In a day when there are many cheap imitations, especially among Christians, how can we pick the fake from the real? In this letter we find out, and discover that real faith really is certain faith.
January 19, 2012
Beginning: Genesis 1-12
From January 29th we are looking back to the beginning: The beginning of history, the beginning of life, the beginning of our understanding of God!
One of the most famous sections of scripture in the Bible and yet it is one of the least studied. As we pour through this primeval history we hope that God will help us to see past the debates concerning religion and science, creation and evolution, to the message that God longed for His people to hear when these words were first written.
As we start a new year at City North join us in the evening services as we look at the first 12 beautiful chapters of the Bible. We will see what God was doing through the famous stories of creation, the fall, Cain & Abel, the flood, Babel and the call of Abraham. Our prayer is that they would be more than nice stories you remember from Sunday School, that rather you will be impacted by the reality of God: His power, creative genius, justice, mercy, love and grace!
Please come along with open minds and hearts from January 29th through to the end of March!
January 18, 2012
Women of Purpose – Shameless Love
The annual conference Women of Purpose continues in 2012 with the aim of Proclaiming God’s Word in its Fullness.
This year as we open the Bible we will explore God’s Shameless Love that He has so extravagantly revealed, and will be spurred on to unashamedly share it in a hostile world. Women of all ages who love being taught and challenged from God’s Word are invited to share with us in a day of Bible teaching, singing, delicious food and fellowship. Further information and registration with online payment is available at register.citynorthbaptist.com
Event Details:
- 17th March 2012; 8:30am; City North Baptist Church; 52 Yiada St, Kedron; QLD
- Early Bird (Adult/Student): $30/$25 (ends 26th Feb)
- Add $5 for late registrations (close on 12th March) *we apologise for a misprint in the recent promotional email.*
- Morning Tea & Lunch Included
- Bookshop with cash and credit card facilities
- Promotional Brochure
Keynote Speakers:
Gillian Davis
Gill is a gifted communicator who is committed to bringing God’s word alive and helping people engage with God in a refreshing and authentic way.
For the past 30 years Gill has found herself connecting with people in the Christian community and well beyond – including surfers, high school students and leaders on a local and International level.
She enjoys, among many things, her kids, music, the beach, rest and any food she doesn’t have to cook. Ultimately her passion is to help people know and experience the Jesus of the Scriptures and be faithful followers of Him.
Brett, Gill, Jackson, Taylor, India and the wonder dog Calvin live in Coledale, NSW.
Gillian brings teaching from Romans on the greatest truth ever revealed. God’s story speaks to our shame and encourages us to stand firm in a world that rejects Him. She has entitled her 2-part talk Courageous Love in a Hostile World.
Ellie Scott
Ellie is passionate about seeing others come to know and worship Christ.
Her gift of Bible teaching and love of other cultures has helped many to discover more about our wonderful God through his precious Word. Her ministry has spanned a juvenile detention centre in the USA, numerous church settings, and a discipleship school in South East Asia with husband Graham through Wycliffe Bible translators International. Ellie now regularly trains future cross-cultural workers at the EQUIP summer intensive in Victoria, works at the Brisbane Cantonese Christian Church and is an academic tutor at Crossway College in Brisbane.
Ellie also loves to sing, and one of her life’s greatest highlights has been seeing people in South East Asia come to worship God in their own language for the first time.
Ellie will bring fresh understanding of God’s extraordinary love through her two talks from Hosea: Shameless Faithfulness and Shameless intimacy.
Dr Johanna Lynch MBBS(UQ) FRACGP Grad Cert (Health Studies Grief and Loss)(UQ)
Founding director of Integrate Place, Dr Johanna Lynch is a general practitioner with a special interest in survivors of childhood trauma and facilitating each person’s growth within their community. Johanna played a pivotal role in commencing Forget-me-Knot, an event which asks all Australians to unite in support of the more than 2 million Australian adults surviving child abuse.
Johanna trains GPs in these issues, and contributes her expertise to community organisations. She is a past board member of Womens Forum Australia.
Dr Lynch is participating in a 20min application interview in the afternoon
January 9, 2012
Internship Review
When I was asked to write a blog post about the internship experience and I looked back over the past three years as the City North Pastoral Intern I was amazed at how much I’ve learnt and how much experience I have gained in so many different ministry areas. To give a full run down in a short blog is impossible but I feel the key element that should be mentioned is that practical ministry experience is vital in testing your call and finding your place within a full time ministry role.
In that light the internship was the core element of my time at Bible College. Theological study is fantastic (and important for those wanting to be ministers) but the practical outworking of the internship is what gave that study tangible meaning for everyday ministry opportunities.
To have come out of the I.T industry and start college was a huge change for me, but I was immediately seeing the worth of the study as the internship had me teaching R.E at Wavell High School, running senior cafes, building relationships with high school students, as well as expanding my music ministry from simply drumming to worship leading and singing. Jesus was able to reveal a teaching gift to me through the opportunities to lead lounge groups, lead communion and preach. In this past year (2011) I found that planning and running youth events, mentoring leaders and students, preaching the Gospel to them and finding practical illustrations to constantly be an example of Jesus to our fantastic group of youthies is what drove me to complete my academic studies.
By far the part of the internship I enjoyed the most and gained the most wisdom from were the weekly mentoring sessions with Pastor Murray. Each week we would spend about 90 minutes in his office, usually Murray would share stories and examples from his vast experience in different ministry areas – or we would discuss methods and articles that he had found particularly helpful. These times, as well as the interaction with Pastor Joe or Pastor Dave, are where the internship at City North really assists in finding a base for how I might do ministry in the future.
The internship may not look the same for everyone, different people have different gifts, but I found that the congregation at City North were always so supportive of every new element I tried, that whoever is the next intern and whatever they do, I am sure that they will feel as greatly blessed as I do now.
Thank You
Dean