11th August 2013

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
11 August 2013

THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
336, 486, 867, 264, 525.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Genesis 15: 1-6
'Abraham justified by faith in God's promise' (ESV)

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward
shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will
you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my
house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Behold,
you have given me no offspring, and a member of my
household will be my heir." And behold, the word of the Lord
came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."
And he brought him outside and said, "Look towards
heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number
them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as
righteousness.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16
'Living by faith in God's promise'

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to
be certain of the things we cannot see. It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.

It is by faith that we understand that the universe was
created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
It was faith that made Abraham obey when God
called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and
Jacob, who received the same promise from God.
For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has
designed and built; the city with permanent foundations.
It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father,
even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not
have children. He trusted God to keep his promise.
Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one
man came as many descendants as there are stars in the
sky; as many as the numberless grains of sand on the
seashore.
It was in faith that all these people died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth. Those who
say such things make it clear that they are looking for a
country of their own.
They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to
return. Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the
heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to
call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

GOSPEL READING:

Luke 12: 32-40
'Be ready for Christ's return'

Jesus said to his disciples:
'Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to
give you the kingdom. Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don't
wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will
never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no
moth can destroy them. For your heart will always be where
your riches are.
'Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and
with your lamps lit, like servants who are waiting for their
master to come back from a wedding feast. When he comes
and knocks, they will open the door for him at once.
How happy are those servants whose master finds
them awake and ready when he returns! I tell you, he will
take off his coat, have them sit down, and will wait on them. How happy they are if he finds them ready, even if he should
come at midnight or even later!
And you can be sure that if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, he would not let the thief break into his house. And you, too, must be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are
not expecting him'.

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

GENESIS 15:1-6:
This is the fifth revelation given by God to Abram concerning future blessing to the world through an heir. In view of Abram's and Sarai's advanced age and their trust that the promise would come true, they had tried different strategies to 'make it happen' according to their own understanding. The Lord had borne with these emergent problems but now he provided new courses to support Abram in his faith.
He showed Abram the stars with the promise of equally numerous descendants, not just one! With this assurance Abram simply believed in tranquil obedience. We are told that 'God counted (reckoned) it to him as righteousness'. That is an act purely on God's part, i.e. to count Abram's obedient faith as 'righteousness', not an attainment reached by Abram himself.

HEBREWS 11:1-3; 8-16:
Faith deals with things future and invisible. Just as the whole creation came into existence from nothing by the power of the divine word, just so, faith is sure of the fulfilment of God's promises for the future and the reality of things which we cannot see. Abraham is cited as a supreme example for his trust in a future unfolding both physical and spiritual blessings that were absolute impossibilities from a human perspective. God's gift of the heavenly homeland came to those believers of old who maintained their trust, just as it will come to us who live in the assurance of things hoped for with the conviction of things not seen.

LUKE 12:32-40:
The Lord here consoles his followers with the thought that though they are a small group in a large and threatening hostile world, they are still his little flock to whom the Father will give the kingdom. Yet their faith will inevitably be tested. Therefore material possessions should be kept in their place and shared when the need presents itself, for heavenly treasure lasts eternally. The return of the Lord also tests believers' faith. Because of its delay, the temptation is to grow spiritually lazy. The obedience of constant readiness goes with a vital and live faith in the reality of the future heavenly life that we cannot as yet see and the fulfillment of the promises for which we hope. The Lord has already saved his servants through his redemption from sin.
Let us be eagerly waiting when he knocks.

Bible readings for Sunday 18th August:
Jeremiah 23:23-29,
Hebrews 11: 29-12 2,
Luke 12: 49-56

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service -11th - 18th August:
Tuesday - 7.00 am - Church Council.
Wednesday - 11.00 am - Group Bible study sessions continue at the church and 7.30 pm at the home of Gloria and Clem Schulze, 4 Elm Court, Waurn Ponds.
Friday- 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service -(non-communion).

2. Bible Sunday:
Next Sunday being 'Bible Sunday', Kevin Fuller from the Gideon's will give a short talk on the ministry of the Gideon's on the conclusion of the worship
service. There will also be a retiring offering in support of this ministry.
As a light fellowship luncheon will follow, members are invited to bring along a plate of finger food to share.

3. 'Warrambui 'Internship 2014:
Find out more about the offer of internships to young people at Warrambui near Canberra, whose mission is to serve. Applications close 27th September, 2013
Please see notice board near kitchen for details.

4. 2013 Christian Life Week Camps:
Further reminder of the two remaining two Christian Life Week Camps for young people 13 -18 years,
theme "MeMe's"; to be held at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap; as follows:
Green: September 23rd - 27th,
Yellow: September 30th - October 4th.

More details are contained in the camper's and parent's letters along with registration forms are available from the front foyer. Please see notice board near kitchen.

Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 20th August - 12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.