Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 27 January, 2012
I know I’ve asked before, but I think it’s so important that I’ll keep asking; Are you getting by on little more than one Weet-Bix a week? I trust that you find the Bible teaching here at Trinity encouraging, stimulating and challenging, and there’s no question that the reading and explaining of the Scriptures is a key part of what we do when we gather. 
But is Sunday morning the only time you spend seriously reading and studying the Bible? If it is, I think you’re getting by on one Weet-Bix a week! Weet-Bix are good for you, nutritious, tasty and all of that, but if you tried to live on only one each week, you wouldn’t be very healthy and you certainly wouldn’t grow. So let’s make sure we’re not trying to live like that when it comes to our spiritual health.
Of course, reading the Bible isn’t limited to what happens in an “official” Bible Study Group. I’d encourage everyone in our community to spend time individually reading God’s Word and praying regularly, even daily, hence the Daily Reading Notes we’ve made available for the Building A Kingdom teaching series. But for almost all of us, I’m sure, reading the Bible with others, meeting regularly for that purpose and talking about what we’re learning is a great way to help us get the most out of our Bible reading, to practice good habits and to develop accountability as we live out lives as people of the Word.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 20 January, 2012
James, the Lord’s brother, urged Christians in the first Century to “not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says” (James 1:22). There are all sorts of traps that can keep us as “merely hearers” as some of the English translations put it; busyness, doubts, selfishness, sin, lack of accountability and so on.
To help us as a community of God’s people work hard at being “doers” of God’s Word and not merely hearers, can I encourage you to join with me in something new?
This coming Sunday, on the Welcome Table, you’ll find copies of a booklet of daily readings to accompany our upcoming Building a Kingdom teaching series from 1 Samuel – 1 Kings. I’d love you to collect a copy of the booklet this morning and, for five days each week, set aside a few minutes to read the passage allocated for the day and reflect on one or two of the accompanying questions. In this teaching series we’ll examine some of the significant moments in the relationship between God and his people Israel around the time of the nation’s first kings and we’ll seek to learn how, even one thousand years before Jesus, God was preparing his people for the king whose kingdom would reign forever. There are some great questions raised in these events about where we place our trust, who we turn to in times of trouble and how we view our relationship to God. And since on Sundays we’re only able to pick up some of the most significant events, reading some of the related passages beforehand will help you make the most of what we learn when we’re together.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 13 January, 2012
On August 8th 2005 The Jesus, All About Life marketing campaign was launched in Adelaide. The message that Jesus really is “all about life” was splashed across roadside billboards, and beamed into homes on TV and radio. It was described as the largest promotional campaign ever undertaken by Christians in Australia and has since been repeated in many Australian cities. The theme of the campaign was based on Jesus’ words in the second half of John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The campaign was considered a great success. People from all walks of life across our city were engaging in conversations about Jesus and Christians were encouraged to share the hope that they have in Christ. It was great to be able to publicly identify with the ads and with the picture of Jesus that was being presented to Adelaide. It was a privilege to stand with Christians from churches all across the city and say, “Yes, I believe that Jesus is all about life.”
I wonder though, if our lives agree?
Does the way we live suggest we really do believe that Jesus is all about life?
