One of the most prominent themes in the Bible is the Second Coming of Jesus. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the 10 virgins. In this eschatological allegory, Jesus highlights the characteristics of those who will be prepared for His return.
In honour of Aboriginal Reconciliation Week our guest speaker Kelly Jackman talks to us about God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Kelly works with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries.
The story of Lot highlights the need for righteous people in cities and what it means to be the salt of the Earth. In this sermon we will explore the concept of Old Testament righteousness and how it applies to our lives and Melbourne City today.
Brr, it’s cold outside.
As we head into the winter season, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have a warm shelter to call home.
For many, that is not the case.
There are 22,773 homeless individuals in Victoria alone. Perhaps they are facing financial difficulties such as unemployment or experiencing domestic violence. They could be having mental health issues or family breakdown. Whatever the cause, they are vulnerable and need our help.
While there are supported accomodations available for the homeless, these are limited in number and still cost money (minimum $14 a night).
In the last 5 years, more than 500 beds have been taken off the emergency accomodation market in Melbourne as rooming houses are redeveloped to cash in on the housing boom. As a result, the number of people sleeping rough (in the streets, without any shelter) in Melbourne has increased by 70% since 2014. A survey of rough sleepers in 2016 found there were more than 250 people sleeping rough on the streets of Melbourne. That number increases each year.
So what can we do to help?
Backpack Bed for Homeless (swags.org.au) is a nationally accredited charity in Australia and the winner of 2011 Australian Human Rights award for best Community Organisation. They distribute backpack beds that are designed specifically for the homeless (light-weight, waterproof, fire resistant, mildew resistant) for $95 each.
Last year we distributed 5 backpack beds and will always remember the tears that rolled down one man’s face when we gave him his shelter for the cold Melbourne night.
This year, someone donated 12 backpack beds and the boxes are sitting in our lobby, waiting to go out to the homeless. Won’t you help us walk around Melbourne CBD one Saturday afternoon after church in June to distribute them and give them vital information about soup kitchens and support centres in their area? Perhaps we can even pack lunch bags to pass out with the backpack beds.
Isaiah 58
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!
2
Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
[…]
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?
6
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8
“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9
Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.
13
“Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14
Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
True and genuine religion in the sight of God means caring for the most vulnerable people in our community (James 1:27, paraphrased). So if you have warm clothes to donate, put them aside and get in touch with us. There is also an ADRA Victoria team that serves food for the homeless every Friday evening at the Queen Victoria markets from 7:30 pm onwards. Perhaps you can donate your time or talent/skill in empowering these individuals to get the support that they need. Please join us in prayer as we seek not just to be a church in the city, but a church for the City.
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14
We may not all be mothers, but we’ve all had mothers. Whether they were inspirational, infuriating, or insignificant, mothers have played a crucial role in shaping who we are. How can we mould their impact positively so that we can truly be grateful on Mother’s Day? What did Jesus say about mothers?
Have you ever wondered, why is our church in the city?
After all, parking is a hassle.
Getting in is also a challenge if someone isn’t in the lobby letting you in & swiping you to the 10th floor.
Why do we have worship at 10:15 am instead of 11 am?
We could have slept in another 45 minutes.
Everyone else has their service starting at 11 – 11:15 am.
Why do we have to do so much for church?
We’re tired from a busy week of work.
The pastors are paid to run church; we’re not.
We have other engagements: friends to see, errands to run.
Why do we have a church service in the city every Saturday at 10:15 am, which requires so much effort and participation?
Because there are 135,959 people living in the City of Melbourne (as of 2016, a 45% population increase from 2011, with a forecast to go up to 175,000 by 2020) and most of them have no idea who Jesus really is – or what He offers: an abundant life of meaningful relationships that last into eternity. Freedom from guilt, stress, anxiety, addictions, and monotony. Truth that helps us live for what matters.
So we meet every Saturday to create a safe place where people can explore a Christ-centred worldview. People who may be walking by Collins Street and see our signs. People who feel the Holy Spirit prompting them to seek something more and google a church in the City. People who used to go to church as children but haven’t been for years but are interested in giving it another go. People who are turned off by church customs for tradition’s sake and want to experience a simple service that is just about God. People who want a community that is open to individuals of all backgrounds and faith journeys. People who may have been going to church for years but don’t really know what it’s like to experience God.
We are a small church, but we have a big dream: not to just be a church in the City, but to be a church for the City – meeting the needs of those who live here, ministering to them, helping them know and love Jesus … to be a church of the City, made up of those individuals who then decide to join our community… to be a church where faith in and knowledge of Jesus can grow in a safe environment, nurtured by genuine friendships, spiritual conversations, and Biblical exploration.
That is why we have the service starting at 10:15 am, with topics ranging from Taming your Temper to Dealing with Suffering: Why so much evil in the world? That is why we have the Exchange at 11:30 am where we can discuss questions that challenge us to apply the topic to our everyday life, no matter what our previous exposure to the Bible may have been. That is why we have greeters at the door, AV team setting up, music teams practising, and children’s class. That is why we bring nibbles every week, drive into the City, and give our tithes and offerings.
What are you giving your life to? What’s truly important to you?
Jesus once told a story:
A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)
What are you giving your life to? What’s truly important to you?
We pray that you commit to joining us in fulfilling a mission that has everlasting impact: building Melbourne City Adventist Church, a community where Jesus is shared, loved, and reflected to a City in need of Him.
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14
What causes anger? How can we keep our anger from getting out of control? Explore a Christ-centred worldview of how to tame our temper.
Whether it’s our addictions to bad thoughts, food, or TV, how can we learn to have better self-control?
What does it mean to live a life of service? Hear the story of an amazing couple in France who lived extraordinary lives and impacted thousands of people.
Shame is universal, yet we don’t like to talk about it. Brené Brown, renown for her Ted Talks on “The Power of Vulnerability” and “Listening to Shame,” defines shame as the fear of disconnection, that “something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal that we’ve not lived up to, or a goal that we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection.” Watch this video as we explore how Jesus heals our shame.