"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." Mark 1:35
Ahoy church,
As a pastor, my deep desire is to see every one of us "Fully Alive" - thriving in life and faith as God intended each of us to be. For this reason, you'll often hear me speaking about "simple rhythms of faith".
After years of reading and watching the journey of many Christians, I'm confident that we can avoid many of unncesarily hard parts of life simply by keeping certain rhythms in life that help maintain our focus on Jesus.
The most obvious ones we talk about each week: getting to know Jesus, inviting people into your life and encouraging each other when we gather.
Needing a simple framework for your faith isn't a giant confession, but something common to us all.
Even Jesus had his own set of rhythms. While he didn't lay out the rhythms as I have above, even he made time early in the mornings to go off and pray on his own. He needed time apart from the daily grind to maintain his focus on the purpose God had given him.
This time on his own, maintaining relationship with our shared heavenly father was super important to Jesus because the rest of the time he was busy inviting people (and welcoming those who invite themselves) into his life in order to love them.
Finally, Jesus made time each weekend, just like we do, to gather together to encourage other people of faith through prayer, reading the Bible and other forms of worship.
Put simply, if Jesus stuck to his rhythms (the above and others), then so should we.
When Jesus was at his most critical moment in the garden of Gethsemane, his habit of deep, intimate prayer began to reap fruit. It was his daily rhythm that enabled him to overcome his greatest challenge.
So may we all, just like Jesus, find our rhythms and get set on a path to being Fully Alive in him.
Cheers, God Bless and see you Sunday!
P.S. NEXT Sunday 31st of August we will be at 209 Burgum Rd, North Maleny from 3pm for our monthly worship gathering.
Could your relationships do with more of Jesus' love?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind....Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Jesus
Emotionally Healthy Relationships (EHR) is half of the bigger Emotionally Healthy Discipleship (EHD) course that helps us learn to love God and others to our full capacity.
In the 8 week EHR course, Pete and Geri Scazzero help to unpack core biblical principles to guide into an experience of lasting below the surface transformation in your capacity to lovingly relate to those around you.
If you have had, or continue to have, barriers in your key relationships in life, join us as we allow God to break through our mindsets and behaviours that are limiting our ability to love others like Jesus has called us to.
This is an actual course, with prayer and devotional readings 5 x days/wk as well as a chapter of a book to read each week. Come prepared to listen, learn and share.
When? Term 3
Where? Renee's house in Kings Beach
How Much? $45 for all the materials. REPLY now if you need financial assistance.
Who? A bunch of us will help lead, but Renee is leading us - 0413 495 529
Jesus: Come, Follow Me
"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"
- Matthew 4:18-23
This Sunday we look at one of Jesus' most quoted command, "Come, follow me". If you've thought that it's just a summary for a bunch of boxes to be ticked, come along and hear more 😄
If you're keen to read more: https://52follow.com/follow-me/
JOIN Open Road on the Bible App
Could you please visit Open Road Community Church on the Bible App and connect with us as your church? Two reasons to connect with us on the Bible App are:
#1 It may help you read/listen to the Bible!
As we heard last Sunday, we want to take Jesus and his life-giving words seriously! The best way to do this is to begin to familiarise ourselves with the gospels and the rest of the Bible. If you can do this every day you'll notice
#2 It helps other locals find Jesus/us
If we have a few more people 'connect' with us via the app it means we will be more easily discoverable!
Connect with Open Road on the Bible App so locals can find us.
Coming Up
August
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Thursdays - Dads Coffee, Bible + Prayer - Dan 0402 301 568
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Sundays - Home Church - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Aug 24 Beach Gathering at Moffats
Aug 31 Worship with Jared + Co - 209 Burgum Rd, North Maleny
September
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Thursdays - Dads Coffee, Bible + Prayer - Dan 0402 301 568
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Sundays - Home Church - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Wed 03 - Deacons Meeting 545pm at Dan + Martine's
Sun 07 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Sun 14 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats + Baptism (Zach and...)
Sun 22 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Sun 29 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
October
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Thursdays - Dads Coffee, Bible + Prayer - Dan 0402 301 568
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Sundays - Home Church - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Sun 06 - 3pm Monthly Worship Gathering - Venue TBA
Sun 13 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Sun 20 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats + Baptisms
Sun 27 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus.
Our Rhythms
Get to Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you intentionally open up your life to?
Gather and get involved: who can you connect, listen, share or pray with this weekend?
Our Giving
We are slowly being led to needs for our giving kitty! Please take time to ask God if there is someone in need around you whom God wants you/us to help!
Last month's giving: $19,513
Last month's expenses: $9,340
Balance: $80,436
Giving in : Oct 23-Jul 25: $5,000
Giving out : Oct 23-Jul 25: $14,082
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to support what we are doing and our giving to those in need, you can get started giving to Open Road to meet the needs of our church or get in touch with any questions you may have.
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