So good to have Ralph Mayhew preach this morning on our Jonah series. It was a cracking message, both inspiring and challenging. We love what God is doing in and through Burleigh Village Church.

Part 2 of our Vision Sundays series with Mike Hands sharing some practical ways we can be light in our community this year.

While on a two week visit to Iran, Dan was imprisoned under false charges with two death sentences eventually placed on his life. Dan shared about how God used his time while imprisoned to transform his life as well as the guards helping to keep him captive.

Stu Cameron kicked off our new series titled 'Jonah'.

Stu shared with us on Vision Sunday around the parable of the talents. The full sermon is available on our website and app: church.nu/live

---

Spoken Word // Vision Sunday 2019

What are you afraid of, and from what exactly do you hide?

Why does the message burn brightly on Sunday, but on Monday hides deep inside?

Who told you to be silent, afraid of hurting or slight?

When what would help a world in darkness, is a people who chose to be light.

Too long has the darkness gone without an answer.

Too long has our world been trapped by its evil cancer.

As Christians in our world, shine their light dim.

Afraid that others might be offended by a fearless messenger of the king.

We wouldn’t hold back the cure for some ailment or sickness.

Then why do we hide the truth from those who need our witness?

Have we so easily forgotten, have those words slipped our mind?

That when our saviour promised power, we could the powers of darkness bind.

The Spirit that lies inside us breaks opens graves.

Unshackles the oppressed, restores the broken unscathed.

It reminds us our worst day isn’t our last of all.

And that there is forgiveness for any, whenever we fall.

Why do we imitate the sickness, that we try to resolve?

Our darkness won’t drive out darkness, only with light will it dissolve.

This light, of the gospel, is the hope we share.

And there is nothing else in the world that can bring that power to bear.

For this world to find hope now is the time, this is the hour.

For us, His beloved children, to stop being ashamed of this power.

For we, his imago dei, to seize tomorrow for the lost.

We weren’t saved to be seated but sent, no matter the cost.

So uncover your gifts people of God.

Use the gifts for his glory.

That your life might shine a better truth invite others to a greater story.

No matter the opposing force, power or might.

May we choose to stand on the rock.

May we choose to be light.

Stu shared at our anointing services on Sunday and reminded us how good our God is, how beautiful the gospel is, and how blessed we are. Grace is the undeserved, unearned, unmerited, favour of God. Our God is a good God!!

On Sunday we heard from Melissa Lipsett speaking into our sermon series on how 'Love Seeks'. Sharing stories from the bible illustrating the effort Jesus goes to to seek and save the lost. Make no mistake, the lost matter to God!

A great reminder from Scott Wrigley to pursue the good works God has prepared for us motivated from his love. As one day all we have done will be tested to see what was in Christ and what was not.

1 Corinthians 3:11-13

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

On Sunday we had week two of our Love Does sermon series with Jon Morris teaching on the importance of our words. Every chance we get we should be speaking out words of encouragement, words of life, words of truth, words of healing, words of hope.

In Ephesians 4:29 we read: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Who enjoyed the sermon from Mike Hands on Sunday morning! Such a great reminder to check the motives of our actions. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.