HOW CAN READING THE BIBLE IN COMMUNITY REALLY CHANGE MY LIFE?

Has reading the whole Bible just felt too daunting for you?

Many people have felt this way, but you are not alone! Here are three reasons why I loved studying the Bible from cover to cover with friends through the BCC at YWAM Newcastle.

You Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Big Picture.

When I first started the Bible Core Course (BCC) I thought I had a decent grasp on the Bible because I had grown up going to church. I quickly realized there was and still is so much more for me to learn about the Bible. During the course we studied an overview of the Bible. This was so helpful because I wasn’t as familiar with the Old Testament than with the New. We reviewed the timeline and history of the Bible from creation, to the exodus, exile, divide of the kingdom, 400 years of silence and then finally into the New Testament. This was all new to me!

Gaining understanding of the Biblical context by studying historical events, learning about who wrote the Bible and who they wrote it for made me feel more connected to the Bible.

In addition to understanding the overall story of the Bible, I loved getting to read each book of the Bible out loud in one sitting.

It was such a new and rich way to experience the Bible. After reading each book, we color coded the books we studied in depth which helped me understand the books even more.

I was able to get really familiar and feel at home in the Scriptures.

It is a Set Apart Time.

Our lives can get so busy with so many things and it can be really hard to take intentional time to study the Bible, much less know how to study it.

The BCC is the perfect opportunity to have an intentional season to dive into the Bible. You also have amazing lectures and staff that teach you methods of how to study the Bible effectively, as well as amazing friends/classmates. We spend years of our lives putting our time towards a degree for a career, why not invest a few months to study God’s Word?

You won’t regret it. Some of the best months of my life were on BCC!

You Get To Pursue God in Community.

I’ve found that there is nothing sweeter than pursuing God in community. Getting to be with like-minded people who are studying, living, and eating with you is life-changing. There were 12 students in my BCC and we all became friends quickly.

It was a blast doing life with them!

Going to cafes to read or study together and late night beach swims were a few highlights. It was such a joy to share what God had been teaching me and to learn from one another.

Being in the same classes and having the same homework made things very relatable, and we were able to to work together and cheer one another on!

Definitely worth it.

– Amy Schmalz, Student on BCC 2018

The post Why Do The Bible Core Course (BCC)? appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

What if I don’t feel good enough to serve God in ministry?

Have you ever thought this before?

Shame can be a powerful and debilitating voice in the life of a believer. The voice of Shame is the quiet whisper in your ear that says “You aren’t good enough” or “Avoid the spotlight” or “Who do you think you are to speak up?”.

Something I have learned is that because it loves to hide in the darkness, shame brings with it the fear of being exposed, and leads me to cover up the wrong things that I’ve done. This has been happening since the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve hid from God after eating from the fruit (Genesis 3:10).

Listening to lies will never lead us towards intimacy with God.

Scripture is full of examples of God using imperfect and even sinful people to accomplish His purposes. Moses had a problem with anger (Exodus 32:19), Joshua was terrified of his enemies (Joshua 1:9), Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho (Joshua 2:1), David was an adulterer and a murderer (2 Samuel 11:26), and Peter denied Christ on the night of His arrest (Luke 22:60).

Through God’s plan for redemption, He takes our brokenness and imperfections and re-creates them into something beautiful.

Repentance doesn’t require perfection but a honest and humble heart.

Only Christ is truly about to comforts us in our weaknesses so that we can comfort others in their weaknesses. Often our weaknesses become strengths when we submit them to Him.

Saying that you need to ‘fix yourself’ before God can use you is like saying you need to ‘fix’ your teeth before you go to the dentist. That’s craziness. If God could only use perfect people, He would never be able to use anyone.

Today don’t let the voice of shame stop you from stepping out and growing in your walk with God. He will not reject you.

“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God”. Psalm 51:17

Trust God to finish the good work He has begun in you. Saying “yes” to Jesus will see you walk into the fullness of His plans and purposes.

The post God Uses The Imperfect appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

In Australia we have a lot of beaches. Have you ever been at a beach and noticed how much harder it is to walk on soft sand? I have. I immediately got tired quicker and had to put in more effort to cover the distance. I didn’t realise how difficult it was until I stepped onto firm ground – everything got easier.

This simple illustration paints a picture of why I love intimacy with God. We can walk through life relying on our own strength, relating to God occasionally or we can build our lives on a solid foundation of truth with deep intimacy and relationship with God. John 15:4-5 really highlights that we need to be one with God as He is our source of strength.

I have discovered my greatest source of strength in life will come from my relationship with God.

A close and personal relationship with God is like having something solid under your feet. It makes all the difference. God desires us to draw close to Him. The Bible tells us to “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8)

In the journey of life we face many different seasons.

There are great moments but also moments where we may be feeling down and discourage (especially if you are in lockdown right now.) We may feel alone, like we are simply drifting through life, or perhaps we haven’t laughed in a while, or been able to see your friends or family. You may be worried about your next set of bills or not know where rent is coming from this week.

Through every season I have learned that the key to moving through all of this is a deeper intimacy with God. If we look at Jesus life, He constantly withdrew to spend quality time with God. Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Matthew 26:36

Here are 9 simple ways I have developed intimacy with God.

1. Aim for quality time with God not ‘quiet time’.

2. Intentionally invite God into your day and tasks, Don’t keep God in a 30min box in the morning

3. Pour out your heart to Him in prayer. Also take time to listen to God’s response.

4. Go for a walk and listen to some worship music

5. Spend time reading a verse and meditating on it.

6. Join a small group and learn with others

7. Find a place of beauty to enjoy and give God an opportunity to speak.

8. Journalling can be a great way to write down your prayers and process with the Lord.

9. Practice thanksgiving and gratitude to God for what He has given or done for you

It’s important to remember that intimacy with God doesn’t get rid of the trials and the pain of life, but it gives you a solid rock to cling to in the storms, a sure footing when the world feels too much, and provides a father and close friend. In John 15:15 Jesus literally calls us friends.

Living a life of true and deep relationship with God is empowering, encouraging, life giving, and secures your identity.

I hope you feel encouraged to step out into a deeper relationship with God and see what a difference knowing His solid character and nature will make to your life.

______________________________

If you would like to listen to some teaching to help you develop your relationship with God; check out our podcasts on Spotify, Google Play, or Apple Podcasts. You can also find them on our website www.ywamnewcastle.com.

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The concept of talking to God as a father was revolutionary for those times. People were used to approaching God through a high priest with little personal relationship – let alone the intimacy of a father.

Today as a follower of Jesus it is common to come before God as a Father, but we may have our own definition of what a father is. This can be based on the experiences we have had with our earthly dads. So the idea of God as a father can be good or bad news depending on what kind of father you grew up with.

There are all kinds of fathers but God wants to show us what He is like.

One of the best examples in the bible of God expressing his Father heart is in the baptism of Jesus. In Matthew 3:17 we hear the voice of God unexpectedly proclaim that “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” What an incredible affirmation to hear from your Father!

This statement was spoken publicly before Jesus began His ministry or performed any miracles to achieve such an incredible comment.

It shows that God’s love is not dependent on what we do but who we are.

It is the father who gives us our identity. We are His children. God is a God of relationship and this is where His love is experienced.  Some of us have never heard public affirmation from our earthly father and perhaps have only heard criticism.

Because our relationship with our earthy fathers can shape the way we approach God, we may not even know how to relate to God as a father without trying to earn His love.

So we have to learn the truth. The truth teaches us we are loved.

God loved us first and so we cannot do anything to earn his love (see Romans 5:8).

The role of a father is significant in knowing we are loved.

The greek word for “love” that God chooses in Jesus’ baptism is ‘Phileo’ meaning “brotherly affection.” Imagine that picture for a moment – God expressing His deep affection towards Jesus in front of all his friends.

It is a great example of how God’s love works and reminds us that we do not need to strive to achieve God’s love.

God loves you. His love is kind and undeserving. All you need to do is accept it.

The love God gives calls our heart to a new way of living. We begin to desire to love like He does because we lack nothing.

This Fathers day why not take a moment to connect personally with the Father heart of God. Ask him to show you His way of love.

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So, what is the ‘normal’ culture of the Kingdom?

Firstly, it’s a kingdom of abundance. We are planted by streams of living water. ALWAYS. When we know that our roots always have unlimited access to never ending streams of living water, we know that we can always bear fruit in every season.

We are never dry, but can always be prosperous. Even in a pandemic. Even in lockdown. Even when things feel way outside of our control.

If we feel fear, we can remind ourselves that in the Kingdom, fear gets swallowed up by Jesus’ love, if we embrace Him. Nothing can separate us from God’s heart of love for us.

If we feel weak, Jesus and Holy Spirit continually intercede for us in prayer. If we don’t know what to say or how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans on our behalf. God is our source of strength. His strength fills our spirit, soul, and heart.

If we feel every kind of pressure we’re not crushed or forsaken or destroyed. Victory lives and dwells within us. Jesus, the overcomer, lives within us.

Jesus the hope of glory lives inside of us.

Jesus is the way, truth, and the life. We have full access to the Kingdom’s abundance, power, and promises, because we always have a seat at the table with Jesus.

God holds the victory over everything. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken His steadfast love for us. Nothing. God is love. He will always lavishy love us, deeply.

Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Even in lockdown, we have full access to freedom in the Kingdom. Maybe not in a physical way that you’re expecting, but we have a table set before us full of freedom, provision, and joy.

We are never alone or abandoned. The Holy Spirit always dwells with us, and that is a promise.

The normality of the Kingdom can become our confidence and hope during this time of difficulty, because it’s the only foundational, unshaken normal we have in our lives.

Our focus is a confident unchanging hope– always living, not just a feeling– not striving to obtain a “new normal” and putting our expectations in things unstable. It’s okay to feel pain, to feel the hurt, frustration and injustice. Jesus felt compassion for humanity in deep hurt, pain, and injustice. Lovingkindness flowed out of this impact in his heart.

Remember that the Kingdom actually hasn’t changed like our culture has.

I invite you to let the culture of the Kingdom engage and embrace your heart & mind, in the midst of everything you may be feeling in lockdown. Ask yourself how can you engage with the culture of heaven instead of the culture of the world, today.

The post Our New Normal: Kingdom Culture appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

This season has been tough. Borders have been and are still shut. Unemployment, isolation, and mental health have dramatically risen, among other things. Economies are struggling. Governments have been forced to think and act in unprecedented ways in an attempt to contain an invisible virus. Covid is impacting people’s health, globally.

There’s been loss, fear, and heartbreaking death.

Since last year I have personally been through over 14 months total of lockdowns, isolation, and quarantines. I am currently in my 9th lockdown. During this time I’ve experienced deep loss, heartache, and things being unfairly taken away from me, out of my control. I had covid when I was overseas and have seen the effects of it, not just in a physical way.

To say the past eighteen months have been hard is an understatement. Isolation, lockdown, quarantine, covid, and fear may feel like a “new normal.”

A question to reflect on: what was normal pre-pandemic?

Our culture is ever-changing, so weren’t we already living in a culture that was ever-evolving & forming into a “new normal”, anyway? Isn’t every day a “new normal” on this basis then? Does a “new normal” only refer to something that would stay long term; something that became permanent?

Basing our definition of “normal” on things of the flesh and earth is unstable and unsustainable. Romans 8:6 (NASB) states that “the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life & peace.”

Matthew 7:24-27 also discusses how a house built upon a rock (Jesus & the Kingdom) remains stable and firmly rooted in stormy weather. It doesn’t waver. But a house built upon the sand (things of the world and the flesh) will collapse under the weight of a storm, because it is not built on a firm foundation.

Our most normal culture actually isn’t the culture of the world. 

The world is ever-changing and uncertain. The culture of the Kingdom is supposed to be our most natural, normal culture. It’s stable, solid as a rock, and unchanging. It’s life-giving. The kingdom of God is filled with love in the midst of fear. It’s will be our steadfast normal throughout this pandemic; not our “new normal” that we as a society are striving to disappointingly achieve.

The Kingdom has always been our only constant. 

There is so much truth in the normality of the Kingdom. I encourage you to ask God to personally reveal what nuggets of His Kingdom He wants to speak over your heart & spirit during this time. And let them live & breathe within your heart.

The post A New Normal appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

I had one of those moments. I had been a tradie in Western Australia for 7 years. Over that time I had built a great life, solid church community, surrounded by my family and great mates, and earning good money. As far as I was concerned I had all I needed.

During this time I had taken some time off and completed a 6 month course called a Discipleship Training School (DTS). It was in these 6 months I encountered God like never before. For the first time I truly discovered my purpose and passion in life.

I had a moment on the school I refer to as my love revelation, it was a powerful and moving moment in my life. God really got my attention and called me to live for more than just myself.

So in January of 2017 I was back home wrestling with the decision to continue with my life or take a risk into the unknown. The question was simple.

Do I stay a tradie or become a missionary?

Those decisions are never easy, weighing up the implications of both options. I went down to a beach and decided I wouldn’t leave until I knew what I wanted.

I had the comfort and safety of the known, settling back into the life I had lived but with the opportunity of even more money working as an electrician in the mines.

Or I could take a risk and step into the unknown world of missions.

Usually, I’m a very logical and analytical person so I usually look at the pros and cons and then decide. If I had done that I wouldn’t be here writing this blog. I would have gone back to the money, family and friends the world I knew well.

Instead that day on the beach I began to look at what I wanted out of life and it became harder and harder to ignore missions. It gave me a new purpose and ignited passion and excitement within me. Missions spoke to my heart while being a tradie spoke to my head to logic and reason.

It’s always going to be easy to go with the “tradie” lifestyle but sometimes in life, we have to put aside the pros and cons list and truly ask ourselves what do I want out of this life. It may make me happy now but will I regret it in 40 years?

So many people never live a life that unlocks their full potential because they are playing it safe. It’s like they have a feeling there may be something more out there for them but they don’t step out and go for it.

I never want to live a half-life with regret of what could have been. Life with God will always involve some sort of risk.

Can I encourage you to think about your life, your future? Is there a decision you need to make? Maybe you need to listen to what God is stirring within your heart and take a chance to see what happens as you embrace the unknown.

Maybe you’ll look back on it as the best thing you ever did.

The post Tradie To Missionary appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

God cares about refugees.

The Bible is filled with men and women who were refugees. Moses, Ruth and Joseph are just some examples of those who were forced to leave their way of life by circumstances outside their control to become foreigners.

Nobody is too insignificant or hidden from God’s loving eye.

In Genesis 21:17-18 we read about God seeing Hagar alone with her son Ishmael in the desert. It was a desperate situation. The Lord reached out to this woman and provided a way forward. He also gave her son a future hope.

Jesus was a refugee.

We may not think about how God can personally relate to the refugee but Jesus himself was a refugee when his family fled a genocide to find safety in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14).

God understands what it feels like to lose a home. To be forced to leave behind what you love. To feel frightened about personal safety. God’s care on this issue is personal.

This month hosts World Refugee Day. I would like to invite you to pray for those who have been forced to leave their home and way of life. As followers of Jesus we have a unique opportunity to reach out to refugees in our local community and demonstrate God’s loving compassion to a hurting world.

The issue may feel overwhelming but the world is not so big and far away when you start by looking next door.

Growing up in small town Australia my life didn’t have much to do with people from other countries. Wars were far away and only something I only saw on TV.

I was watching with the world in 2016 when millions of grief stricken refugees began to walk across Europe in search of safety. I saw images of families forced to walk for days and wished I could do something to help.

During this time I did a night class with YWAM on global missions and gained God’s insight on Nations, cultures and people groups. It stirred my heart to care about those living as foreigners in my own city.

One day a lady randomly come into my office and asked if anyone would be interested in making house visits to several Syrian families in my city.

I said yes.

The first visit involved awkward conversations across a difficult language barrier.  As I continued to go back each week a friendship was developed. Now four years later I call this family my family and enjoy our weekly meals of fellowship together.

I would later learn that my friends were one of the millions of refugees I had seen fleeing their beloved Syria. They had walked tirelessly throughout the night carrying their 4 small children and 2 bags of clothing to find refuge in Jordan. I remember wondering what I could do to help and am grateful that God gave me the opportunity.

It feels as though my life has become enriched through this experience and I am constantly blessed by my friends in more ways than one. I have also gained more of God’s heart in the process.

If you have a heart for situations you see in the world, ask God to show how you can help. You may be surprised by how quickly He answers that prayer. God’s ways are generous. You may also be surprised by an unexpected blessing of friendship.

This is what God is like.

The post God as a Refugee? appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

I lived in a town of 2000 people within the ‘Bible Belt’ of the U.S and while it felt like we had a Christian church every few blocks, I only remember having one person in my acquaintance that followed a different faith.

Fast forward to my college years. One of my dear friends there had grown up as a missionary kid in South America. After we having been friends for several months, he shared with me that he was an atheist.

We began having rich, open conversations about our spiritual backgrounds, and I shared about my faith in Jesus.

As a follower of Jesus I feel called to relationship and sharing truth with those of all backgrounds.

Our conversations challenged me to take a greater hold of my beliefs and it also richly built our friendship. As a follower of Jesus, I feel called to building relationships and sharing truth with those of all backgrounds.

In my friendships with those of different faiths, God has taught me the following insights:

1. Get outside of your bubble

Our culture celebrates diversity, but we can still find ourselves living with people like ourselves. It takes a conscious decision to befriend those who come from varying cultures, worldviews, and perspectives to your own.

In Acts 17 we find that Paul did not wait for the Athenians to come to him – he searched them out and began conversations.

Helping with a holiday kids club helped me make a new friend this last year who comes from a different nation, culture, and religion to myself.

Ask God to highlight ways to meet new people such as through a hobby, social group or volunteer opportunities.

2. Seek long-lasting relationships

Openness and trust in relationships are built through time and shared experiences. Such as with my friend in college, we were friends for a few months before we even spoke about the spirituality in our lives.

Simply be consistent and seek genuine care for your friends.

3. Offer prayer and blessing

At times in the past, I’ve felt awkward about asking to pray for my friends when we have come from different religions. Over time I found that most people welcome prayers and blessings for their lives.

Just like me, my friends are navigating their own relationships, work, and purposes. We can easily feel isolated in that but prayer is a significant way to support your friends.

Ask how you can be praying for your friends, and if they are open, follow through with them.

______________________________

Here’s the challenge to consider: who is God leading you to connect with outside of your bubble?

The post Loving People with Different Religions to Me appeared first on YWAM Newcastle.

He went from encompassing light and life, to sin and death; everywhere. Jesus went to a new ‘country’ but He never made people feel weird about theirs. He made people feel valued and called them higher; to be their fullest selves.

Jesus showed us the way to true life.

When Jesus entered our human culture, He brought that culture of heaven to earth. This culture of heaven deeply transforms humanity.

Jesus’ culture redeems our broken one. Jesus’ culture of heaven — of love, light, truth; the Kingdom of God…it’s this culture that’s changed the world.

So how do we change the brokenness in the world? How did Jesus do this? It’s a very simple yet deep answer. Jesus…loved. Go on and check out the classic John 3:16 verse.

Jesus’ love is the catalyst that transforms the world and redeems all of its cultures.

Jesus’ love is the catalyst that transforms the world and redeems all of its cultures. This kind of love is what we are all called to as Jesus’ followers.

The culture of redeeming love is part of your destiny. This is part of who you are called to be.

How do we love this way? How do we gain a heart for the whole world, regardless of differences? How do we gain a heart for cultures and people groups not our own?

Let’s start by placing you in the story.

You go to a new country, city or home. You notice things are a bit different. Maybe the people speak a foreign language. Maybe the city is bigger, dirtier or nosier than you’re used to.

Maybe the home you’re visiting smells funny or the decorations aren’t to your liking. It’s a bit uncomfortable. It’s a bit weird.

These feelings usually arise when we experience new cultures.

When your culture collides with another, it causes an initial friction. I once heard a leader say, ‘If something seems weird to you, it’s because it’s offending your culture’.

I once heard a leader say, ‘If something seems weird to you, it’s because it’s offending your culture’.

That’s pretty profound.

Read that again, ‘if something seems weird to you, it’s because it’s offending your culture’. Your culture refers to the collection of your (and your society’s) ideas, customs and social behaviors. You create a culture around you wherever you go.

So you, too, can create a culture of confidence, openness and hospitality, or one that can look like insecurity, hiddenness and distance.

When we think things are weird, strange or uncomfortable, it’s usually because they are new and not normal to our culture. The strangeness shows us that things are different and out of our control.

The way to find the treasure is by taking culture collisions as opportunities to learn.

The collision of cultures also reveals other ways to live. There is actually a treasure hidden in these collisions. The way to find the treasure is by taking culture collisions as opportunities to learn.

In these crucial moments, we have an important choice to make. This choice can lead you straight to the treasure, if you choose wisely.

Your choice is to open up or to close off.

Wouldn’t it be nice to fully be yourself, and be met with an open heart, even if that person is totally different than you?

We can choose to stay open and learn from different people, or we can close our hearts towards them.

If you find something or someone ‘weird’, I challenge you to stop and ask yourself, ‘what can I learn from this? How can I keep my heart open instead of closed?’.

A closed heart can sometimes look like a cold attitude, superficial kindness, judgement, gossip or rudeness.

An open heart can look like one that learns, loves, stays humble, listens, patiently observes, surrenders and aims for connection rather than agreement.

This open heart comes from the culture of heaven. It looks like the way of Jesus.

We are called to ‘be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God’ (Ephesians 5:1-2).

The way of love is the way of Jesus.

Here are some tools to keep your heart open, especially towards people and people groups not your own:

Pray.
Pray for the people you don’t understand. I can guarantee that if your heart is open to God and you pray for them, you will receive His heart for and perspective on them.

Asking God for His heart for the people and places that are different than you will change your heart in a beautiful way.

Choose thankfulness.
Choose something to be grateful for in regards to that person, place or situation.

Smile.
Appropriate eye contact and smiling can bridge many gaps.

Music.
Singing and worshiping together can build bonds deeper than most conversations can.

Learn.
Keep an attitude of a learner. Find something to learn about them or their background.

Research their culture, if possible.

Choose patience.
Don’t worry, it takes time.

Serve.
Find a way to serve and bless that person or people group in a way that makes them feel loved and honored. Research and observation may help you in this area.

Hospitality.
Find a way to invite them over for a meal and/or conversation. How can you make them feel at home?

These tools bring the culture of heaven to earth. When it comes to loving people groups not our own, Jesus is our ultimate example and strength.

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

He leads us into this kind of love, so if you want to experience life to the fullest, entrust your life to Him and ask Him to show you His love.

This love changes the world. This love will give you a heart for all tribes, tongues and nations.

Let’s do this!

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