Every Nation Brisbane

Advance - The Baton and the Pacesetter

How are you running this race?  Pastor Neli continues with our Advance series with this week about the baton and the pacesetter.  We get so caught up sometimes in the way we run our lives that we forget how we run.  Comparing our race not to a sprint or marathon but a relay race, we must remember a race well run is a relay baton well passed.  How are we impacting the next generation?  How are we going to pass on the baton to those who are running along side us?

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

- 2 Timothy 4:8

Advance - Amazing Race how sweet the prize

How sweet is the prize in the amazing race we are running?  Pastor Neli continues with our Advance series this week.  It's not how you start a race but how you finish.  God doesn't just want us to compete in life's race, but to win.  However, we need to run with excellence and have an objective to win.  To win we must please the Father and be one with the Gospel. The Gospel was never meant to work in us.  It was always meant to work through us.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

- 1 Corinthians 9:23 (ESV)

Advance - The apostle Paul's guide to high fashion

Ps Neli continues with our series on Advance with this week focusing on being specific.  Just like what Paul had written in the Book of Ephesians, we must put off our old self which belongs to our former manner of life and put on our new self which is created after the likeness of God. However, you can't put on your new self without taking off your old self.  Let's get specific.  What areas in our life do we need to remove to make way for our new self in Christ?

Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

- Ephesians 4:21-24 (ESV)

Advance - The Empty Self

We have special guest Ps Ken Dew continuing our series on Advance this week.  The Empty Self.  Christians are not experiencing spiritual maturity because they are victims of something called The Empty Self Syndrome.  God's plan for us is to advance individually.  We are the body of Christ.  We cannot be expected to advance the kingdom unless the kingdom is advanced in us. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

- John 14:12

Advance - We're Better Together

Continuing further into our Advance Series while we focus on the unity we have as a church family.  We're Better Together.  There is an exhortation of God that can only happen with togetherness.  There is a blessing when we come together and when we walk together it's amazing how God will use other people to draw any fears out of us.  Let's fight for fellowship.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

- Psalms 34:3 (ESV)

Advance - Backward Forward Toward Upward

Pastor Neli starts our new series - Advance.  Like a crash of Rhino's stampeding towards a target, so too should we be fixed on God.  If we're chasing after anything, chase after God or else we're chasing after things which are worthless and insignificant.  Let us strain forward to recognize the difference between choosing God and chasing God.  Remember - God chose us, we chase Him.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 3:14 (ESV)

From Here To There - Who Got Next?

Continuing our series From Here To There Pastor Neli talks to us about the past, present and future generations and how important it is to ensure we are leaving behind something our children and the next generation can carry on for us.  If we want to successfully transfer something from this generation to the next generation we need to start by looking at what we are depositing into their lives.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

- John 16:7 (ESV)

From Here To There - The Greatest

Pastor Neli continues our series on From Here To There with this week focusing on Greatness.  When we look at greatness according to God and His Holy Spirit there's a different scale to how we measure greatness.  Is it based on what we've done or how much we have?  How do we become great? When we use the gifts God has given us to serve others, the greater God will exalt us.

The greatest among you will be your servant.

- Matthew 23:11 (NIV)

From Here To There - The Journey Of Light

Special guest Pastor Sam Webb speaks to us about the Journey of Light, continuing our series From Here to There.  Pastor Sam breaks it down into the Light of Illumination, God's word and His direction for our lives.  There are times when we might struggle with life's obstacles or difficulties but once we welcome God into our life a "light" can come on inside of us and we get to experience the relationship He wanted with us all along.

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

- Acts 13:47 (ESV)

From Here To There - Discipleship Culture

Pastor Timothy Loh joins us from Every Nation Malaysia church to continue our series called From Here to There.  Discipleship is culture.  Once you build that culture, it builds you back. We should be living out The Great Commission through everything we learn from the sermon on the mount.  The tipping point of The Great Commission is ownership.  So what are we doing?  Where are we going?  Have we taken ownership today? 

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

- Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)