Sunday, April 2 What Happened When Jesus Died?
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!’ 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, ‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’
Mark 15:22-39 [NIVUK]
Sunday, April 7 Good Friday Communion. (Communion)
Sunday, April 9 Gardens and Graves
The burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about thirty-five kilograms. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus there.
The empty tomb
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped round Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’
‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ 14 At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’
16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’
She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).
17 Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Sunday, April 16 Parable of the Sower
18 ‘Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 [NIVUK]
Sunday, April 23 Three-fer Parable Luke 15
The parable of the lost sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
The parable of the lost coin
8 ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
The parable of the lost son
11 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” 20 So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
21 ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22 ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
25 ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
28 ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
31 ‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Sunday, April 30 Guest Speaker
Sunday, March 5 Practice of Communion
Correcting an abuse of the Lord’s Supper
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and ill, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 1 Cor 11:17-33 [NIVUK]
(Communion)
Sunday, March 12 Practice of Serving
15 Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 1 Cor 12:15-18 [NIVUK]
Sunday, March 19 Pastor Mandy Gray
Sunday, March 26 Practice of Worship
1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice Psalm 105:1-3 [NIVUK]
Open the attached flyer prepared by Taryn Saunders, Company Captain of Girls' Brigade at Tuggeranong Baptist Church.
Print the flyer and pass on to friends and families who may know girls who would be interested in Girls' Brigade...
And don't forget Boys' Brigade is on at the same time.
The second series under our 2023 theme of Building the Body—What it means to know, grow and go as a believer in Jesus takes a look at things that tear down the body inspired by Proverbs 6:16-19:
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
- haughty eyes,
- a lying tongue,
- hands that shed innocent blood,
- a heart that devises wicked schemes,
- feet that are quick to rush into evil,
- a false witness who pours out lies
- and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Proverbs 6:16-19 [New International Version]
View the video where Ian introduces our vision and themes for 2023.
Continue to follow COVID Smart behaviours as singing in church increases your risk of infection and mask wearing is encouraged when you are unable to observe 1.5m distancing.
The teaching series Hope Rising - Trusting God for More will commence on Sunday 22 January.
See you Sunday!
As we commence the 2023 in person services the teaching for Sundays 22 and 29 January 2023 will be Hope Rising - Trusting God for More as we move into our theme of Building the Body.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13
David Hay sent their November newsletter
The Newsletter contains:
- News of their Home assignment
- Details of Rachel's successful open-heart surgery and recovery
- David's mother passed away in October
- David returned to South Africa and visited iKhethelo Children's Village to collect their much-awaited visas
- Christmas plans
- Return date to South Africa set for January 2023
Hi Friends,
Last Saturday over 400 delegates and pastors gathered in 7 locations around NSW/ACT for our Gathering incorporating the Ordinary Assembly.
For many people present the day was very challenging, on multiple fronts. It highlighted some significant differences of perspective in the matters being discussed. I want to honestly acknowledge the concern and the hurt that is present among us as a movement at the moment.
What Assembly Decided
We dealt with 2 significant sets of matters. The first was in respect of the representation of women. Assembly resolved to ask Assembly Council to develop strategies to address the underrepresentation of women in pastoral and related ministries. It also resolved to establish a minimum 30% quota of female participation on our councils and committees, with the requisite number of places remaining unfilled if female members were not elected to them. A further motion to establish a target of 50% female representation on these councils and committees from 2027 was not passed.
The lengthier matters before us were 22 recommendations regarding Affiliation, Baptist Values and Marriage. These motions came from Assembly Council following instructions to it from the Special Assembly in February 2021. You can find the document prepared for Assembly HERE.
Assembly dealt with the first 8 of these motions. The first motion, to make these decisions by a 2/3 majority, was narrowly lost. Assembly agreed to synthesise our 2 existing statements on marriage into a single statement. It also approved in-principle motions that churches and accredited ministers need to support our marriage statement. Position statements on Congregational Government and Local Church Autonomy/Healthy Association were passed which reflect our long-held practices in these areas. In all, the first 8 of the 22 recommendations were voted on, but we ran out of time to discuss and decide on the remaining ones.
A summary digest of the Assembly and its decisions will be circulated when it is available.
Assembly Council will also meet soon to discuss the process from here, and a further update will be brought after that meeting.
Some pastoral comments
As things stand, we sit with tension on multiple fronts. Some of us want these remaining matters to be decided as quickly as possible, others want further reflection and discussion. Differences of view were very evident in some of the votes last Saturday, and those differences are strongly held. These matters connect to deeply held values about who we are as Baptists and how we move forward. Being God’s people and finding his way forward for us here is hard, and for many of us, emotionally costly.
We wish it were different.
Yet the call is to remain committed to prayerfully and humbly seeking God’s will together. To do so honouring and respecting one another even when we differ. And to continue to believe God is with us and working his purposes through us (Ro 8:28).
We also have the privilege and responsibility to minister to one another in this season. Can I invite you to reach out to others who you may sense are feeling the weight of these matters – to listen and support. I know this is already happening to some degree. The Association is also working as we are able to provide some assistance to people to pastorally process the decisions that have been made. More information will be made available about this shortly.
And of course, let’s continue praying for one another, and for the Lord Jesus to be glorified through our life together as his people.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 1 Cor 13:11
Steve Bartlett
Director of Ministries
18 November 2022
Tuggeranong Baptist Church partners with Olive Tree Media. Through this partnership authorised attenders at the church can access a licence to view any of their content on their individual devices.
Send your request for a licence to tbchurch@internode.on.net.
Content includes:
Faith Runs Deep - Join Karl and Jane Faase as they travel across Australia unearthing stories of faith. You’ll meet and hear about Christian leaders, missionaries, indigenous elders, sports people and armed service personnel who share stories of sacrifice, courage, forgiveness, acceptance and faith.
Jesus the Gamechanger 2 - To the Ends of the Earth - a 13-part documentary about how the gospel went from a small group of followers in the backwaters of the Roman Empire to become a global faith in the 20th century
Jesus the Gamechanger a 10-part documentary series on how the life and teaching of Jesus changed the world and why it matters
Towards Belief - Defusing the Belief Blockers of our Time - a 10-part series seeking to defuse the belief blockers of our time.
The Family Series - 10 sessions which look at the key issues facing families today
and more.