Encouraging one another – a life of discipleship

A warm welcome back if you have been on holidays and as always welcome to our guests. We have prayed you are blessed and may that continue as you return to daily routines , school pickups and pack lunches, after school clubs and so on!

One of the challenges facing us and many church communities is how can we encourage one another in a life of being Jesus disciples if we don’t meet up regularly?

For some of you coming more than once or twice a month on a Sunday is difficult. We continue to trial different formats at 10 and thank you for feedback on the past two weeks changed format as Godly Play has been on Sabbath rest! I am wondering about continuing the Wednesday evening meal  for anyone who wants come along, with small groups following after.

Some of you are not in our mid week small groups for various reasons. So how can we support and encourage you in your life of discipleship. Let me know as I want each person involved with St Nick’s blessed, growing in their sense of belonging to a loving community, engaging with their trust in Jesus and working that out in daily life. It’s difficult to do that alone. It’s hard to live out the ‘one another sayings’ of scripture  in isolation!

If you want to know what we are thinking about then don’t forget you can listen to sermons from our website www.stnicholasaustralind.org.au/sermon    last month there were a good number of people downloading and listening to sermons which is great. Not because we think we have the best teaching rather it means we are thinking and praying about the same challenges in following Jesus. E.g. Why mention hell, Jesus? June 25th Rewards ? July 2nd The harvest is plentiful June 18th.  

It’s never been easier to find helpful bible reading / study/ devotionals online for our smartphones. I am recommending Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in One Year which works well. There are three readings per day which may be too much, in which case do one. The format is simple i.e.  an introduction, a bible reading and then a short commentary by Nicky followed by a short suggested prayer. Try it or something similar and experience a ‘little daily bread ‘in your spiritual diet! The app link is here https://www.bibleinoneyear.org/

However the Christian life is generally lived in community. Currently we have 61 people linked into our current and new small groups that meet mid week . This is not including the lovely gatherings of Thursday Craft group or monthly Care and Share.  

Let’s encourage one another in our walk with Jesus and  bless one another in community. Let’s be disciples making disciples.

Shalom

Jamie