Acts 10: 1 - 23

While Cornelius didn't know Jesus personally or even the existence of Him, he was still wholeheartedly pursuing God as well as generous to those he commanded. I think the lesson here is that God will reach out to everyone who seeks Him no matter the circumstances of culture. This did make me think a little, did I cut off people I loved because I wanted to be closer to God or because I wanted a family that wouldn't get me in jail. Am I truly a selfish traitor at heart like people say? Sometimes I don't know the answer. I sure as hell hope my faith in God is genuine despite my flawed character. Surely I would have expected a lot more things to have changed by now but I'm still the same retard I was 2years ago. God is greater than my weaknesses and insecurities, I'm aware of that but I hope that I can adapt a sincere and desperate heart like Cornelius.

Prayer points:
-reflect on what God can do through me rather than my own depravity
-have reassurance on the faithfulness of God. He will provide everything I need if I earnestly seek Him

Acts 9: 32 - 43

Peter stayed with a Tanner named Simon (one who is involved with the corpse of dead animals). Peter was starting to break down prejudice and non-essentials because he knew that spreading the gospel was more important. While I believe I should make outsiders feel welcome I hope I don't use evangelism as an excuse to smoke more than I need to

Prayer Points:
-newcomers/guests at church camp
-as a church we can break our prejudices agains't those who are unlike us

Acts 9: 1-31

I changed life like Paul's is dramatic and is one of the best observable testimonies a some can acknowledge whether being secular or religious. Paul persistently faced the hardship of convincing his fellow Christians that he's not the bad guy anymore. I know that I'm not an ideal christian but I should take encouragement in this. I pray that I can prove to people that I've changed by proving it to God first.

Prayer points
-continue to read bible persistently
-accept love from cheil
-be a witness to lifegroups

Acts 8: 26-40

Most people I know acknowledge me as a Bible reading christian. When questioned I'll answer them to the best of my ability. Throughout my 2yrs of persistent Bible reading I've come to familiarise and realise that Old Testament scripture is just as essential as the New Testament. The rich Ethiopian man was reading Old testament scripture and because Philip new the teachings he was prepared to lead those teachings back to Jesus. I hope and pray that I stay persistent in my studies. I should also stay persistent in my sorrow for those who don't know Jesus, to love them.

Prayer points:
-Cheil and Sydney churches can stay solidified in scripture so we don't bring up our own ideas
-Ignite a missional mindset, to have a desperate concern for those who don't know Christ
-Strike up conversations and relationships with those who are not like us for the sake of Jesus

Acts 8: 1-25

Verse 9-25: 

I think there's a lesson to be applied in the story of Simon the Sorcerer, when he was harshly rebuked instead of making excuses he just exclaimed "Pray to the Lord for me". Whenever one rebukes me for a mistake it is for my own good, the most healthy thing to do is to thank them and repent.

Last time I was offended was when Elice told me, "I don't see certain fruit growing in my life". My defensive reaction would've been along the lines of "i haven't seen you bring one person to church and you're calling me inadequate?". However, she's a seasoned Christian who also couldn't go to overseas missions because her dad wouldn't let her, this is the same situation i'm struggling with. So I'm glad I just shut up and took it. She was right about certain qualities that I lack. 

Acts 7: 45-60

Here we witness the first martyr of the faith. Stephen is killed and Saul assists in it. Nothing new really stands out to me but it's a reminder that we're never expected to live comfortable lives. As leftist propaganda grows my religious freedom is threatened more and more, I hope to be like Stephen who is no doubt scared but full of courage in His mission and assurance in His salvation.

Prayer Points:
-ACC will continue to live out the gospel despite persecution
-Scy teachers to diligently love the highschoolers as they're surrounded by a secular education
-New lifegroups to grow in God and fellowship with one another. 

Acts 7:1-43

Not too sure what to add to this since this chapter is mainly a summary of Jewish history. I guess the application is that to evangelise it's important to approach in subjects or speech that they can understand and comprehend? Stephen made sure he empathised God's faithfulness and that He never left His chosen people. 

Acts 6

Verse 2-4: We should do our best to look out for the needs of the minority in our church communities. The apostles recognised a problem in the church and raised up leaders who were skilled in their abilities to solve these problems. I guess this is another "cliche" reminder that we can't handle an overwhelming amount of responsibility by ourselves, we need to share the load with others for their and our sake. This can be referred to as the body of christ. 

Prayer response:
-lg leaders can be persistent in their efforts to lead others to christ
-lg members can look after our leaders
-to encourage myself and others to reach out to the minority/odd ones out
-love others who aren't like myself

Acts 5: 17-42

Verse 40-42: The apostles are weird lol, I wish I was as weird as them. After their first share of physical persecution (flogging) they had rejoiced for it seemed like a blessing. When I'm suffering whether it be persecution or depression it's because Satan is scared of what God will achieve through me, let this be a reminder that I'm loved by God. I pray that through these experiences I will persistently push myself with Jesus help to spread the gospel just like the apostles had.

prayer points:

-tattoo james will persist in inviting unlikely people to church and become intimate with christians over time

-jackey will have a fruitful time in china despite being young in faith and experiencing loss

-stop doubting my salvation. 

- for me to be grateful and dearly in love with God

-to imitate gloria in persistently rejoicing in the Lord despite what satan throws at her

Acts 5: 1-16

1-12: It was Ananias and Sapphira decision to sell their property, the problem was that they had half ass intentions. They might possibly have wanted to contribute to the great commission but they also wished the appraisal from others, apparently the latter was more important to them as they tried to achieve this from lying. Dishonestly and greed can kill a Church. I doubt the core intention in this passage is for us to belittle those in our congregations who've stumbled, but rather to portray it as a very serious sin not to be ignored. I'm not particularly aware of this sin being an issue in my life but I should always keep myself aware. Am I doing what I do for the appraisal of others or because it glorifies God?

Prayer points:
-cheil and sydney churches to be humbled
-outward change in those young in the faith
-SCY will be a witness to these things

Acts 4

Verse 24-30: I can't ignore this. The believers prayed not that they were to be delivered from their problems but rather how they can best approach them. Regarding my depression, I don't think I've prayed like this in a while. I've been praying for perseverance, a lot of it but in a way in which I just continue taking bullets without complaint. Instead of just tanking it I should just do something about it??? I don't know what to do besides share so I reckon imma leave the rest up for God. 

Applications: fight spiritual battles with others. share even when i'm unconvinced that people care so i know i've done what i can

Acts 3

Verse 16: This is a small but i reckon an incredibly important detail. Peter proclaimed "In Jesus name" thus giving the glory not himself but to God. He didn't empathise on his achievements or his gifts but rather what God could do through him. I think this is one of the best signs that a spiritual leader is under God's influence and not their own ambition.

Acts 2

Verse 40-47: I wish Cheil was like this. Cliques were minimal, everyone was invested with whoever they had the opportunity to meet, they met up regularly. It's unlikely to see Cheil in this state anytime soon, but mad shout out to the God for changing us even if it was slightly for the past 2 years. A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ, a love this unsubtle and deep rooted would be contagious. I hope that God continues to make change in the hearts of our EM members, we all have work to do especially regarding the outcasts or the Sunday christians that could need some discipling. 

Acts 1

Verse 12-26: Obviously we don't cast lots in our current times but what we should always model ourselves after these believers is their approach to decision making. Choosing a replacement for Judah was by no means a small deal, put great effort. They didn't just outline specific criteria based on Jesus teaching but they prayed asking God to guide the decision process. It's easy for me to just make decisions easily and quickly without resorting to prayer first. Just because I know scripture, doesn't mean that I'll always make the best course of action, knowledge is not enough. I hope and pray that I'll be always more reliant on God more than my own understanding

John 21

John 21

Verse 15-25: Do I love God? Do I love God? Do I love God?
I'm not too sure how this makes me feel. This question has been going on in repeat since coming back from a 2 month solitude. Am I serving Him out of convinience or sincerity? I've read the Bible back to front multiple times and love is shown and proven in such an unsubtle manner, this is insane would be considered radical in our society today. My hope and prayer is that I will pick up my cross before me and cast aside my petty entitlements and past wrongs. I've done so much wrong yet will continue to do so much wrong. I can imagine how hard this would have been for Peter, the guilt of denying Jesus 3 times weighing down on him. Bruh this relationship feels ceebs sometimes aye

John 20

John 20

Verse 24 -30: It's weird. I don't really know how to express or inform people why I believe in the existence of a carpenter in Nazareth. The most of what I can say is that God has proven himself real in the experiences of my life and its comparison to scripture. Even though this would no doubt sound retarded according to what makes sense in the world, I believe it nonetheless. Of course I haven't seen Jesus face to face, but the amount of times God pulled me back to him whether it be willing or unwilling on my part I believe. I wish my testimony wasn't as corny as that but it is, i'm grateful that there are smarter people than me out there to make the gospel known in the way critical people might comprehend or respect more. Nonetheless God saves who'm he wants to save

p.s jordan peterson step your game up smh

John 19

John 19

Verse 30: Actually learnt something, apparently when Jesus said "It is finished" it is equivalent to the greek translation for "paid in full". Diligent sacrificing of lambs is so ceebs lol. Other than that there are so many more reasons to rejoice in salvation. 

Verse 38-42: Joseph son of Arimathea and Nicodemus were previously secret followers of Jesus risked their reputations to care for Jesus burial. Not sure how I can apply this since i'm already open with my faith but it just stood out to me lol

John 18

John 18

Verse 15-16: Peter denied Jesus three times. I have nothing to add as this is just too relevant and identifiable to modern lukewarmness. Let that sink in...

Verse 28-37: Pilate spoke to Jesus face to face and he still rejected Him. I wonder what was going through his head when he finally faced judgement. All the missed opportunities to turn back on his earthly security. It is a tragedy when people fail to acknowledge truth (in this case that Jesus was innocent of any crime), but how much more severe the tragedy when Pilate acknowledged Jesus innocence and still threw Him to his death.

John 17

John 17

verse 10: One of the best ways for people to know Gods character is through the character of His children. God's glory is when we reveal His character in all aspects of our life, even if we don't do it perfectly. We are saved by grace so we strive in the practice forgiveness and reconciliation with God and others.

verse 20-23: Jesus prays that not just imitate the way God made us before the fall but to live it out, unfortunately there are exceptions. God wants His children to be unified under His son, but I can find often that sometimes we meddle with non-essential theological differences. However in the case of the Uniting Church of Australia, I believe division is necessary. My hope and prayer is that despite the relationships between other Christians whether legitimate or pagan, we can express God's love and character in the way God has defined in scripture

John 16

Verse 13 - Sometimes I still dont know if I have the holy Spirit in me. I still do and think really stupid and self centred things. Hope that I'd eventually follow up with my convictions in a less obligatory emotion.

John 15

John 15
Verse 2-3: This verse goes agaisnt the westernized conception that God provides convinience to his followers. God will purposely make us go through hardships even when we have done nothing to deserve or contribute to it. Why does God allow suffering? Sometimes we bring it on ourselves and in this context God uses it to strengthen character. This used to never make sense to me when I was younger, "what an asshole? I thought". I see the necessity in this "pruning" as i'm older and I'm thankful for it. Pruning narrows down those who are truly saved as shows me those who cherish Jesus over everything the world could throw at them. Because of their perseverance they have a testimony, they stayed attached to the vine. I should mourn in Christ, seek consolation and encouragement and try to stear away from worldly sorrow.

John 14

John 14
verse 5-6: this verse is thrown around so much usually in context to combat legalism and catholic ideology, but how often do I really put this into practise? Is Jesus the centre of my life? Or belonging? Bitches? Gucci? The later two I've settled down with but the first one im scared like crap.  I'm terrified of being alone and so I have an attachment to people (kinda ironic cause I'm bad at maintaining relationships at my church rip). I guess what I'm implying is that it would be hard to give up my belonging for Jesus but community isn't what saves me. It might certainly help but Cheil is only a tool that God uses in my life to spread the news of salvation, but it's not Cheil that qualities me but grace. This is both comforting and scary, knowing that I'm safe in God's provision but that others can spend their whole lives attending church, being confident that they're saved while being oblivious that they love Cheil and not God. A love of God and a love of His bride can be often be confused.

verse 12-14: It used to be somewhat difficult for me to pray as I used to never read my bible, I prayed for everything in convinience. However as I've come to understand scripture more and more, my interests became aligned with God's and I prayed that His will be done. I've been praying to be used by God rather than to have a stable and comfortable life. I still remember the words that kept going on repeat in my head as we stepped on South African soil "Lord, please use me." God has never neglected the prayers of His children, and because I have an urge whether it be big or small for God's will to be done I know He will grant my prayers

John 13

John 13

verse 34 - Love is shown true in action. how much do i struggle to do this? To love others like Jesus lis impossible, I can never do it perfectly as I cave in too much out of inconvenience. I guess the longer I serve Cheil the more I get tiresome of wholesome and boring people. It's ironic and creates self deprecation in my faith, making me think will God keep His promises and provide me with greater contentment in Him? 

John 12: 20 - 50

John 12: 25 - We should be so deadset into living for christ that we should hate our life on this earth in the ways that it stumbles us and our relationship with God. My self-centred thinking has been the leading cause for disappointment and discontent in my life, because I crave the self glorification this world offers me. I want to crave Jesus but my pride is longing to surround myself with those who I really do belong with. I have no idea how to stop this and idk when it will

Romans 7: 15-20
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.