TBT 1 Feb

This week at TBT we begin the series "The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of a believer". Phillip Jensen will open God's Word. The topic this week is "Born and Baptised by the Spirit".

In preparation, it would be helpful to read these passages: Ezekiel 36:25-37 & John 2:25-3:21.

In addition, it would be a great idea to look at all the references to "Born + Spirit", and "baptised + Spirit" in the Bible.

Don't forget dinner afterwards in the Cathedral, gold coin donation. And this week, due to the Chinese New Year celebrations, park downstairs in the underground parking (details to the right) and get a voucher during TBT.

Women's Evangelistic Prayer Meeting - Thursday 29th January 2009

A quick reminder that some of the women of The Bible Talks will be gathering together tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 8am at Cafe Rush (263 Clarence St, Sydney) to pray for our non-christian friends, family and work collegues, asking that our gracious Father might give us opportunities to talk with them about Jesus and that we may have the joy of seeing them brought from death to life as they come into relationship with him.

If you can be in the city at 8am on Thursday, we'd love to see you there. I understand that this isn't possible for everyone - no fear, you can pray wherever you are! Why not come along if you can, or otherwise spend some time on Thursday praying for those you know who don't yet know Jesus.

Other dates for your diary: Feb 26th; March 26th; April 30th; May 28th; June 25th; July 30th; August 27th; Sept 24th; Oct 29th; Nov 26th


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Master Planner: Feb-May 2009

Check out the link here to find out when you are serving at The Bible Talks on a Sunday night.

If you find your name is missing - don't worry, all is not lost! There are plenty of opportunities to serve, and some real gaps in some areas. So drop us an email at info@thebibletalks.org.au or have a chat with Mandy or me to let us know how you would like to be involved in serving at The Bible Talks on a Sunday night.

Summer Session Prep

Mark O'Donoghue at Summer Session #1 asked us to do some prep for SS#2. Mark, being of English origin, probably meant homework, but we'll forgive him on that one. This was the task he set us this week.

Look carefully in the office, in the city, at lunchtime, on the train/bus, even at home, and whilst you are doing that ask this question about those who don't follow Jesus:

What do they live for? What excites them? What is it that people think about? What is it that they live for?

Come up with three or four idols that people in Sydney live for and for each one, what does it show they have not understood about the gospel?

Serving in 2009 at The Bible Talks

For those who have lost or not yet picked up one of the 'Looking forward to 2009' forms, here's a version you can print off and hand to Mandy or Mike

Name:_________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________________
Phone number: __________________________________________


Please select the relevant box:
□ I am a partner at The Bible Talks
□ I would like to find out about being a partner at The Bible Talks
□ I am a regular at The Bible Talks

Sunday Night Serving Opportunities

Music/Tech Team
□ Song leading
□ Band (I play: ___________)
□ Sound
□ Powerpoint operation
□ Music set up/pack up (no musical ability required!)

Service Team
□ Bible reading
□ Bookshop
□ Creche
□ Money count
□ Pack up
□ Prayer
□ Security

Welcoming Team
□ Welcoming newcomers
□ Pre-church coffee cart

Monthly Dinner Team
□ Head chef
□ Kitchenhand


Other:________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________


Mid-week/Ad hoc serving opportunities
Cathedral wide:
□ School scripture (at Ultimo Public on a Thursday morning)
□ Kathedral Kids (Sunday mornings 9.30-12noon)
□ Cathedral convention organisation

The Bible Talks
Some of these are deliberately vague – because they can be as big or little as you make them! But if you have skills or abilities in these areas that you’d like to use to serve others at The Bible Talks, let us know so we can talk about how you might be able to be involved.

Admin/organisation
□ Administrative support
□ Advertising and publicity
□ Design and layout
□ Missionary support
□ Organising social events
□ Programming team
□ TBT event management
□ Website development

Outreach
□ Bread of Life
□ Celebration (1st Sat of the mth)
□ Street evangelism

People work
□ Driving people to/from TBT
□ Following up new people
□ Hospitality and meals
□ Meeting to read the Bible 1 to 1
Other:_________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________


Things I’d like to be trained in:
□ Praying and reading the Bible in public
□ Explaining my faith
□ Talking to newcomers
□ Meeting with someone to read the Bible

□ Following up a new Christian
□ Leading Simply Christianity
□ Writing a Bible Study
□ Child Protection
Other:_________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

The Holy Spirit in the Life of a Believer

Our Dean, Phillip Jensen, will be beginning a series of talks next week at The Bible Talks, entitled: The Work of the Spirit in the Life of a Believer.


It should be a great series, where we get to think about and really examine what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit's work in the ongoing walk of the Christian believer.

The topics are:
1 Feb: Born and Baptised by the Spirit
8 Feb: Sanctified by the Spirit
15 Feb: Sealed by the Spirit
22 Feb: Lead by the Spirit
1 Mar: Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit
8 Mar: Filled and Full of the Spirit

TBT 25 Jan

After TBT this week, we are going out for dinner in the city together. There will be no break, and shortly after TBT finishes, we'll be heading out for dinner.

We church in the city and we will be making use of the city, by eating out after church.

Chinese New Year

*Next* Sunday it is the Chinese New Year, and the city will be hosting a Parade on Sunday 1 February starting at around 7.30 pm. They have told us that they will be putting up tiered seating along George Street in front of the Cathedral.

Parking downstairs in St Andrew's car park on Kent St is still available (free from 3pm-10pm for all who come to TBT), but parking on the forecourt next to the Cathedral might not be possible. Please factor into your plans as you attend TBT this week.

UPDATE: It's not this week, but next week. Sorry.

Commissioning Service for the Sholls

Dear supporters,

You are invited to the Sholls' commissioning service. It will be a time to pray for Pete, Sarah, Karina, Lucy and Miriam as we send them out to Mexico.

It will be held at St Matthew's Ashbury, cnr Leith St and Creiff St Ashbury, on Saturday 31st January at 5:00pm. A children's program will be available. Afterwards we will have a light dinner in the church grounds. Please bring something to share.

Men's Convention

In Feb this year THE BIBLE TALKS men will be attending Katoomba Men's Convention over 27 and 28 February. The topic is the book of Daniel. The speakers are Al Stewart (ex TBT), and Mark Ashton who will be speaking at TBT the week after.

Further details are here. We will not need accomodation, since we are departing 6am Saturday morning from the Cathedral (with the obligatory good coffee) and returning Saturday night, so we can be fresh for church on Sunday.

International Speakers

As per this post we really are blessed to have a large number of internationally renowned speakers at The Bible Talks.

Last week we heard William Philip, the well-known rector from The Tron church in Scotland.

In a fortnight's time, we will be hearing from the internationally renowned Mark O'Donoghue, from Bishopsgate London.

This week, the famous (at least in his own household) Mike Turner will bring us Psalm 3.