Pastor Ray Walton's message is about how God uses ordinary men and their resources to achieve extraordinary things. We may consider ourselves, our resources and abilities as unworthy to play a part in building God's kingdom however, like the heroes of faith when their opportunity for releasing faith came, great things happened when God multiplied their faith.  We've heard of Billy Graham but who has heard of Edward Kimble? In 1858 Edward Kimble, a shoe salesman, witnessed to D. L. Moody, who influenced Frederick Meyer, who preached to Wilbur Chapman, who included Billy Sunday in his ministry, who in turn reached businessmen in Charlotte, who invited Mordecai Ham, who ultimately reached Billy Graham. And it all began with the simple witness of Edward Kimble. Who would have thought of such a chain of events over fifty years leading to so much and yet having its beginning in a quiet witness sharing their faith. Faith builds on faith. Jesus is on a progressive ministry and wants to take the world over nation by nation, city by city, town by town, and street by street and we have a part to play. Like the nameless man in the gospels, our part may be as simple as releasing our donkeys - our resource - for Jesus for the Lord has need of them.Scripture:

Matthew 21:1 to 5

Zechariah 9:9

Hebrews 11

Psalm 139:16

Pastor Mike Baumgartner's message is from Mark 2:1 to 12, the passage covering the amazing miracle Jesus performed on the paralytic man.

The paralytic man's brain was disconnected from his limbs. He was unable to move. His four friends brought him to the house where Jesus was but were unable to get in because of the crowd. They perservered and went up on the roof of the house and digging through the roof made an opening to lower the paralytic man on a mat to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the man "Son your sins are forgiven".A person can appear to be totally whole and normal but emotionally or spiritually they can be disconnected.

The Devil hates it when someone gets connected and engaged with the body of Christ, the church.

There are broken, paralized people who are waiting for someone to bring them to Jesus. People needing their sin to be forgiven and restored to wholeness. Sometimes the biggest obstacle to bringing someone to Jesus is the crowd.

When someone brings a hurt, disconnect person to church then we all need to help bring that person to Jesus. Sometimes our selfish behaviour can be a hindrance. We are called to carry people in prayer and bring them to church and to Christ.Jesus carried more than the cross to Golgotha. The weight of the cross was more than wood, he was also carrying our burdens and our sin. He knew what it was like to carry and he calls us to carry too.Scripture:

Mark 2:1 to 12

John 13:35

Luke 7:1 to 10

2 Peter 3:9

John 19:17

Pastor Jon Cathie continues his message on the Treasure Hunt and the items we need to take on the journey.

Items to take on the journey (continued from last week):

Purity of heart, mind and action.

- Do the 3L test on our words - do they give life, love and lift.

Repentance

- 9 Rs of restoration:

Recognition of sin.

Repentance.

Running to the Lord.

Receiving forgiveness.

Resisting temptation.

Renewing the mind.

Re-aligning our soul.

Reviving our spirit.

Right passion becomes right living.

Unity

- Unity cause the anointing of the powerful calling and the purposes of God to flow in us and through us to make a difference in this world. Unity is an attraction for the treasure of his presence.

Scripture:

James 4:6 to 12

Daniel 1:8 to 20

2 Corinthians 7:1

Psalm 15

Proverbs 18:21

Isaiah 55:3

Proverbs 4:23

Acts 10:4

Matthew 5:8

Romans 6:1

Romans 8:6

Acts 3:19 to 20

Matthew 18:20

Psalm 133

Ephesians 4:2 and 13

Pastor Jon Cathie encourages us to quit playing hide and seek where its all about our arduous efforts and to head out on a treasure hunt where its all about the prize.

Obtaining the prize, the presence of Jesus is not that complicated. But where is our heart today? Are we ready to forsake the pleasure of the world for the treasure of heaven. Do we place enough value on the prize.If we want to obtain the prize there are some travel items that we need to take on the journey:

1. Humility. (v10)

2. Submission. (v7)

3. Resistance to the enemy. (v7b) How do we get our fight on:

B - Begin with praise and worship.

A - Apply the blood of Jesus.

T - Testify.

T - Take captive wrong thoughts.

L - Launch the promises of God's word. The battle is in our minds.

E - Exalt the name of Jesus.

4. Draw near to God. (v8)

Scripture:

Matthew 7:7 to 10

Matthew 13:44 to 46

Matthew 6:21

James 4:6 to 12

Matthew 16:24

Philippians 3:8

Ephesians 6:12

Revelation 12:11

Romans 12:2

Philippians 4:13

1 John 4:4

Matthew 8:29

Philippians 2:10

Pastor Mike Baumgartner's message is about how our past experiences can cast a frame of reference that limits our relationship with God. Some things can only be known through revelation. The Holy Spirit wants to help us break out of our limiting frame of reference so that we can move into the future that God has for us. God has greater things in store for us. You never know who you really are by looking in a mirror. If you want to know who you really are and what you are called to be then look to Jesus.

Scripture:

Matthew 16:16

Matthew 14

Isaiah 64:4

1 Corinthians 2:9

Judges 6:11 to 16

Psalm 121

Focussing on this month's theme, Pursue to Obtain, Pastor Mark McGugan's message uses the Apostle Paul's  description of how he ran his race, what he was striving for and how he strived.

Satisified people do not get to the next level. We are not pursuing for the sake of pursuing but we are pursuing to obtain.Are we going to be those that are merely pursuing or are we going to be those that are pursuing to obtain?Run in such a way as to get the prize. What is the way that we should pursue?

We need to et on our press on. The Greek NT word for press 'dioko' means to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire. How do we get our press on:

Get on our forget on. The glory of God is not in our past but in our future.

Get our set on. We need to be focussed on our goal. Lack of focus is more problematic than a lack of time. To remain focussed we have to say no to a lot of things and yes to fewer.

Get on our get on. Believe that we can actually obtain it.

God has invited us this year to pursue in order that we may attain. God designed us to obtain. At the proper time we will reap if we don't give up. It's not about us working harder but about his grace that empowers us and enables us.

Scripture:

Psalm 63:8

Philippians 3:10

1 Corinthians 9:24

Matthew 20:1 to 16

2 Corinthians 11:23 to 28

Philippians 3:7 to 14

2 Corinthians 3:18

Colossians 3:2

Hebrews 11:6

Completing October's theme of 'Pursuing Through The Hard Times' Pastor Jon Cathie provides part 2 of the 19 Oct 14 message "From Fair Havens to Phoenix." Part 2 is called "Maltesers and a Warm Fire" - listen to the message and you'll know why.A lot of people have been through a storm in their lives but are unable to face the shipwreck. In his message Pastor Jon provides keys to help face the shipwreck. Listen to Pastor Jon's message as he uses the Apostle Paul's shipwreck in Acts 2 and 3 to derive the following keys to facing a shipwreck:

Be careful of the voices you listen to.

Take time to recharge and replenish.

Fill your heart with thanksgiving.

Focus on the familiar landmarks.

Accept people's kindness.

Get the fire blazing again in your life.

Bring finality to the shipwreck and determine that it's not going to define your life.

Scripture:

Acts 27:27 to 44

Acts 28:1 to 6

1 Kings 19:5 to 9

Genesis 42:36

Romans 8:28

Psalm 103

Galatians 6:9 to 10

Psalm 68:6

On this Mission Sunday visiting Pastor Brett Wiltshire asks what picture do we get when we think of mission. Australians with an island perspective tend to think of mission as being an overseas outreach, however our greatest need is not to cross seas but to cross cultures. Cross culture is the culture of the cross. Our mission to cross culture might be as close as the back fence. We may delegate responsiblity for overseas mission to others but our back fence is our responsibility. Pastor Brett's message describes how Australian Aboriginal Outreach (AAO) is currently reaching ten percent of the 396 aboriginal comunities in and across Australia. More needs to be done and we can get involved by praying, giving and going. We have been anointed for a purpose, let us not receive this grace in vain.Scripture:

Acts 1:8

Ephesians 2:13 to 18

Acts 2:5 to 6

Joel 2:28 to 29

Mark 16:15

Keeping with this month's theme of Pursuing Through the Hard Times Pastor Jon Cathie's message is about the seasons in life that are interrupted by various storms.

Jesus was able to calm a storm and great men like the Apostle Paul were able to weather the storms. Listen to Pastor Jon's message as he expands on the following five keys on how we can weather life's storms.

The first thing you do in a storm is make sure you listen to the voice of God.

You take courage by gaining perspective. Is Christ in your boat or not? Focus on the greatness of God.

Deal with your fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. Love more.

Hang around with destiny. Destiny rubs off, hang with destiny not with desperately. Stay close to those who are anointed, spirit filled and worshipping the Lord.

Declare your faith in God. Declare who God is to you. Open up the Psalms - its all there.

Don't just declare in your storm, prepare in your storm. Diligently do what you can all the while trusting that God will do what he can. Your story isn't defined by a storm or a shipwreck, it's defined by a saviour who sets your course.

Scripture:

Acts 27:10 to 44

1 Kings 19:12

1 John 4:18

In line with this month's theme 'Pursuing Through the Hard Times' Pastor Jon Cathie's message uses Ecclesiastes 3 to provide keys to making sense of the seasons that we go through in life.

How do we make sense of the seasons that we go through in life? God has made everything beautiful in its time. The challenges that come our way have beauty within but sometimes we only see the beauty in retrospect. How can we see the beauty in the moment?

Keys:

There is beauty in every season (v11).

Things make more sense when we have an eternal perspective v11).

We cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end (v11). We cannot possibly know it all because we are not God. Only God is omniscient. It isn't always for us to know but it is always for us to trust. Sometimes "I don't know" is an acceptable answer.

Whatever God does is final (v14). God will have his way, no matter what the season we are going through. God is just, righteous and perfect in every way.

Let reverence for the Lord grow in your heart as you go through the seasons (v14). When we have a reverence for God the seasons we are going through are seen in comparison with his almighty power. How big is your problem and how big is your God? Big God, small problem. God is forever faithful.

Recognise that cycles exist in God's economy (v15). God calls each event back in its turn.

The prize is Christ and the goal is eternity (v11, 21). The seasons help us grow into the image of Christ and prepare us for eternity.

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3

Isaiah 61:3

1 Corinthians 13:12 to 13

Hebrews 12:2

Psalm 126:5

John 9:1 to 3

Genesis 18:25

Lamentations 3:22 to 25

Romans 8:28

Philippians 1:6

Psalm 46

Philippians 3:13 to 14