Silencing people in love? The worst of sinners? Shipwrecking one’s faith? Praying men and modest women? Deacons and disgrace? All things are good? A list for widows? Public rebukes? The root of all kinds of evil? Fight the good fight. There’s just some of the issues we’re going to face as we look through  Bring’it at hbc:am and hbc:pm over the next 8 weeks… starting Sunday 5th Feb.

As the uni year begins, we’re praying that God would graciously use us at unichurch to see people saved and Christians mature while they’re at uni. Last Minute Sunday is where we lay out our plans, under God, to see this happen. Get along! 4pm Feb 19th at CT202. Free BBQ before church included.

Our friends at Grace Evangelical church are running a 1 day conference about ministry, with particular reference to women’s roles and opportunities. It’s on Tuesday 13th March from 9:30am. Most of the staff team are planning on going, and if you’d like to come along, the details are here.

Check out news and other videos of our MTSers here.

Check out news and other videos of our MTSers here.

Sign up for KMC now…

https://hunterbiblechurch.wufoo.com/forms/hbc-goes-to-katoomba-mens-convention/

Registrations have opened for the unichurch WEEK away… Forge. Early bird discount runs out soon, so register here…

https://hunterbiblechurch.wufoo.eu/forms/the-holy-spirit-at-forge-12/

Over brekky we read an encouraging comment by Charles Spurgeon, that maybe this year will be our last.

Katie and I reflected on our ability to consider our lives on earth more excitedly than eternity with Jesus. In 2011 we got engaged, married & bought a house that we’re about to move in to. I started a new job (twice) and a bible college course. Lots happened, lots of good things. But things that we’ll forget if Jesus comes back.

Jesus has promised that he will come back, sometime that we can’t predict - “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows” (Matthew 24:36). It could be 2012 ironically. It doesn’t matter, because we’ve been told what we should be doing while we wait.

We are to wait together faithfully

Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, ²⁵ not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other,^(A) and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

When Katie and I get tired, church is often the last thing we want to do on a Sunday before the regular week starts. When we do turn up, trying to look after other people, we’ll drive home saying “that was so good, I can’t believe we thought about not going”. Waiting together for Jesus’ return is both our work and our encouragement while we wait.

We are to wait together faithfully

When Jesus comes back he’ll measure our faithfulness relevant to what we’ve each individually been given. Matthew 25:29 says “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” What these servants have (or do not have) is fruit produced from what Jesus has given them. Individually and uniquely.

Last night one of the PM guys was reminding me about the need for Christians to deliberately and prayerfully have a look at where God has put them, what abilities and resources he’s given them, and to use those circumstances and abilities to produce fruit for God. The consequences for never doing this are terrifying (Matthew 25:14-30) and the reward for doing it is the opposite.

I’m praying this year that God will graciously force me to be fruitful. It may be the year.
Come Lord Jesus, come.

So if you haven’t heard yet, we’ve got eight fresh MTS Apprentices starting their training in 2012 for two years. That’s huge! Its such a privilege for our church to be part of these guys becoming effective gospel workers in the future. We don’t train them for the sake of our church, but for the sake of Jesus’ church in the generations to come.

But who are they and what will they be doing in 2012? Well, they’ll all be writing and leading Bible Studies (Growth groups) and they’ll be meeting up 1:1 with Christians and non-Christians. But on top of that…

Sarah Tippett > Membership at Unichurch & Sprout and trained by Kelly Landrigan

Scott Westwood > Membership at Unichurch & BFG and trained by Dave Allen

Matt Tyler > Mission with International Students & Sprout and trained by Sam Hilton

Pete Munday > Magnification & Sprout and trained by Greg Lee and Pete Witt

Dave Robertson > Mission at Unichurch & jPod and trained by Sam Hilton

Nick Watts > Colleges (Reality) & WBS Creche and trained by Dave Moore

Ben Danson > Maturity at Unichurch & Scripture and trained by Richard Sweatman

Claire Williams > Maturity at Unichurch & Scripture and trained by Kelly Landrigan

Please remember these guys in your prayers, as they begin to feel the weight of responsibility in being entrusted with God’s word as shepherds of God’s flock.