Old Testament Bible Readings

Each week at The Bible Talks we have an Old Testament and a New Testament Bible reading. This is because its a good thing to hear from both Testaments. It's a good thing to hear about the unfolding revelation of God and his will for us in the Scriptures.

Usually the Old Testament reading has some relation to the New Testament. However, for the next 7 weeks, we will be reading through the Book of Micah. This will give us a good opportunity to hear an Old Testament Book in its entirety. The readings for the next few weeks will have no direct correlation with Hebrews, but they will always add and supplement the New Testament reading, given that it's the same author. One advantage it has is that reading an OT book through will mean we don't only focus on our favourite or pet passages, but hear the whole counsel of God.

So it's a chapter of Micah per week for the next 7 weeks.

Prayer Points – Maiko Watanabe

Maiko writes from Japan (28 May 2008)

Dear Friends,

How are you? It is nice time of the year in beautiful spring here in Japan. We had ‘Golden Week’, public holidays from the end of April to the first week of May. I attended retreat of CMS missionaries in Japan for a couple of days in the week, when we had John and Cathryn Thew, Federal Secretary of CMS-A, for pastoral visit. It was blessing time of fellowship and learning from the word.

Praise God with me:

* For the pastoral visit by the Thews in Japan and their faithful service to God; they also came to have meetings with both Pastor Matsuda at Mukonoso Megumi church and with Takagi-san of KGK. Those meetings were very productive and Pastor Matsuda and Takagi-san appreciated so much of the partnership with CMS-A.

* Thanks for your prayers. My back pain is, now, so much better than last month.

* Those 20 students came to the KGK meeting for the first years on the 26th April. It was very good time of fellowship.


Please pray for:

* The partnership with CMS-A will finish in the end of February 2009. Please pray for my future path.

* My faithful service to God and being obedient to him both in church and KGK.

* Monthly meeting for uni students started at church in April. Please pray that those who come to the meeting would grow in their knowledge of God and in their faith and that this meeting might be good time of encouragement for them.


Thanks for your partnership with me in the gospel. I do appreciate your prayers and support.


Love in Christ,


Maiko Watanabe

Yet More Social Action

Yet more links on the importance of social action, following on from Sunday's sermon......here is a post from the Sola Panel, who we referenced earlier, about the importance of Social Action and the last day.

1 June @TBT

This week at TBT, we are beginning our series on Hebrews. Phillip Jensen will preach on Jesus Greater than the Prophets.

For preparation, please read: Hebrews 1:1-4 and Micah 1.

This week at TBT: 1 June

Since its the first Sunday of the month, after TBT this week we'll be sharing together in a meal. There will be no break and no supper. So, dont have dinner beforehand, and do have dinner together afterwards.

Phillip Jensen on World Youth Day & Catholicism in SMH

here is an op-ed piece by Phillip Jensen on World Youth Day and Catholicism.

It's a modified re-print of the recent "From the Dean", which you can read here.

TBT and St Andrew's Cathedral

We held our Big Church Day at St Andrew's Cathedral on the weekend just passed. We heard about the vision of the Cathedral, in that, as God builds his church, he will reach the city. In building up the church we will reach out to the city of Sydney.

We heard about all the ministries occurring at the Cathedral. It was great to hear what some of the other congregations are doing and how they were playing their part in reaching the city.

Please continue to pray for our role in reaching the city of Sydney, and that God may build us up for that purpose.

As something of a side issue, Jeremy F has accepted the Cathedral's nomination to represent St Andrew's at Synod. Grahame O will also represent TBT at the Cathedral Council, a body set up to organise Cathedral wide events, such as Conventions and the like. Please pray they will steward us in all Godliness.