Early bird registration closes this coming Sunday. Again, whether you’re a worker or a student, if you can possibly make it we’d LOVE you to come – to get trained to read and understand God’s word, to hear excellent Bible teaching, to get to know a bunch of other Christians from around Brisbane, and to ignite 2012 with a greater love for God.

Coming up on October 5 is the annual TWIST (The Word in Song Together) music conference. TWIST2011 is about encouraging all Christians to celebrate, share and remember the gospel in song. So this evening is for everyone, and will be packed with awesome teaching, singing and heartfelt response to the Word of Christ.

The main speaker will be Bob Kauflin – he’s the Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries, US. His influence in contemporary church music across the world is characterised by a deep commitment to Biblical truth and desire to see Christians sing that truth with passion. He wrote quite a few 5:17 church song favourites: “Receive the Glory, Let Your Kingdom Come etc”, and wrote a very helpful book called “Worship Matters” (highly recommended to all our muso’s).

When is it? Wednesday, 5th October (7pm – 9:30pm)
Where will it be? Creek Road Presbyterian Church (cnr Creek and Fursden Roads, Carina)
How much will it cost? $20

To register, go here

Here’s a shameless photo of Bob, Keiyeng and I – when we were at the Worship God 09 conference at Bob’s home church (in Maryland, U.S). We had lunch with Bob and his family, and were incredibly encouraged by his love for Jesus, and his honest other-person centredness. He was a great model for me as a Christian man.

Thanks Eleasa and Grace for letting us know at church last Sunday about the TC walk you participated in! It was indeed great to see so many (maybe 100?) women from all around Brisbane walking together for the same cause.

Here’s a photo of E&G and their support crew

You can read up about Teen Challenge and what they do here.

We’re turning our service leaders’ training session into a BC3 event – this Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm. If you’re not a service leader you don’t really need to worry about this but feel free to come if you’re interested! Otherwise please pray for it and everyone coming.

As announced, it will be 5:17 church’s 1 year anniversary in 2 weeks’ time! The big day is Feb 7 so invite your friends to our special anniversary service which will be incorporating 2 baptisms (wahoo!). Obviously there isn’t a large body of water in or outside of our church building so we are moving church that Sunday to Pastor Ben and Faith’s home at 48 Boundary Rd, Indooroopilly, and we’ll start at the special time of 5pm. PLUS we’ll be having a BBQ anniversary party after the service so that’s triple reason to invite your friends (1. anniversary 2. baptisms 3. food)!

The Women of Purpose annual Bible teaching day is fandiddlytastic and I personally think this year’s (Sat March 13) is looking like the best yet. See the City North Baptist Church website here for all the convincing details and register yourself straightaway or if you must, let me know by comment, email, or at church and I’ll add you to the group rego count. If you’re a 5:17 female you have to come!!! If money is an issue please don’t be embarassed to say so and we’ll see if we can arrange subsidies.

You’ve probably never heard a Christmas message from the Bible book of Revelation – let alone Revelation chapter 12 verses 1-12.

What does Christmas have to do with a woman, a dragon, and a baby?!

You’re invited to 5:17 church’s Christmas Eve service, to find out what this cosmic intertwining means – for Christmas and for you.

(Find us on Facebook!)

Thanks so much to everyone who came, and especially to 5:17ers who helped set up and pack up in several different ways.  It was a pleasure to serve with you to host Simon and so many BC3ers (Brisbane Chinese Church-ers).  We were thankful to God for how many people came (a full hall), for how helpfully Simon answered questions, for how attentive and responsive everyone was, for peoples’ generosity in giving to support LCM, and for what God will do in peoples’ lives and churches as a flow-on effect.

We’re also very glad to say the night was videoed so that we’ll be able to make DVDs available for people who weren’t able to come but who are keen to know what was shared – if this is you feel free to let us know – but we haven’t yet determined the details of how we’ll release the DVDs.

And we’re hoping to have other similar events in future to help our churches keep growing in understanding and living out a holistic biblical worldview.

5:17ers, we hope you’ll make a point of coming to listen and learn, and also to help host this supremely important night.  We want to be thoughtful, loving, thinking, biblical Christians who respond well to the significant issues in contemporary society. This night will help.

And BC3ers, please join us – it will be a pleasure to host you!

There will be an opportunity to ask Simon questions on the night, but it would be easier for him and us if you could submit them beforehand – by email or by posting them (anonymously if you prefer) in the Comments section of this post.

Details again: 7.15pm | Saturday 14 November | 83 Ryans Rd, St Lucia.  RSVPs aren’t necessary but are welcome through the same means as above!

This coming Saturday (October 24), a few of us at 5:17 church are heading over to the Creek Road Presbyterian Church to hear a day of teaching on John Calvin. But it was mentioned to me the other day that some people may not know why John Calvin is an important figure in Christianity – and thus, why should they bother to go to the Calvin day?

As Protestant Christians:

We  trace our history to John Calvin and others who led a movement to reform the Church according to the Scriptures. John Calvin (and other Christian men and women) helped to take the church back to believing in the absolute sovereignty of God and in God’s glory as the highest good. This historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the “alones” of the Reformation, namely:

    Grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God.

    Faith alone as the only means of receiving God’s grace.

    Christ alone as the only ground of God’s saving grace.

    Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief.

    God’s glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women.

Source: http://www.pcq.org.au/presbyterian-church-of-queensland

Grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God.

Faith alone as the only means of receiving God’s grace.

Christ alone as the only ground of God’s saving grace.

Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief.

God’s glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women.

Source: Presbyterian Church of Queensland

These are the truths people like John Calvin fought for 500 years ago. They are the truths we stand on today.

We’d love for you to join us at this event – and I think there’s still time to register, so for more info and to register, click here.