Online service, 8th November

Welcome to our CP10 service online

We’re glad that you’ve joined us today! We are a community of believers who seek to know our Saviour, Jesus better and to love others more deeply.

If you have any prayer requests this week, questions or feedback about today’s service, please contact our Pastor, Chadd Hafer, at chaddhafercp10@gmail.com.

Opening Songs

Our world seems so chaotic and uncertain at the moment. But as Christians we know that God has never took his eyes of his creation, despite how much we have rejected Him. His plan was always to save us through His own Son. In the Son’s name is power to save us and release us from every sin. He bore the punishment so that we can be reunited with our Father.

The famous chorus by John Wesley is intended to mean “Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Him with them all.” Will your whole being praise and worship Him as He deserves?

Our next song tells the story of Jesus’s life and resurrection. Some people ask why did Jesus do all that?

In Living, He Loved Us
In Dying, He Saved Us
In being Buried, He carried our sins far away
In Rising, He justified us freely forever

One Day, He will come again. It will be a glorious day!

Announcements

Gingerbread House

Our annual Christmas community outreach event continues…as house parties! Choose a date in December to invite friends and family over. Please contact Jen Choy regarding your gingerbread order or your hosting package by Sunday 15 November. Choice of classic, gluten-free or chocolate houses @ $23/kit. Lollies can be ordered separately if desired. Kits will be ready for pick up from Friday 27 November. Please be praying for each other as we plan and invite, pray for our friends and that more may truly know Jesus.

Joshua Series

Today we continue our new series in the book of Joshua about God’s fulfilled promises to his people. Peter will be speaking on Joshua 9 in relation to the Gibeonite deception. There will be some interaction so please get involved!

  • There will be two poll questions before the sermon so please participate
  • Please also stick around after the sermon to discuss the following question:
    • Outline one situation where you are tempted to: Walk by sight and not by faith OR Not do your due diligence in obedience
    • How do the truths from Joshua 9 help you in this situation?

Special item

Thanks to everyone who packed shoeboxes! They will be going to children in Malawi, Madagascar, Fiji and Cambodia and we pray this will demonstrate Jesus’ love to them and open them up to hearing more about God. We have a short video of everyone who packed boxes – enjoy!

Congregational prayer

Please continue to pray that God will grant wisdom to our CP10 leaders as we consider when and how to return to onsite services at Strathfield (Sundays at 2pm) in December. Pray that God will help us all to consider how we will participate and serve in these interim services.

Please pray for our CP10 members ‘Lorenzo and Liliana’ as they begin preparing for a return to overseas service next year, God willing. Pray particularly that the Lord will bring together a team of faithful supporters over the next few months as they start visiting various churches and Bible study groups.

Pray for the Perretts, proclaiming Jesus amongst overseas students at Griffiths University (Gold Coast):

Praise and thank God for:

  • Building FOCUS and raising 2 new leaders; and sending a former leader to Japan to teach English and share the Gospel
  • Unexpected opportunities brought by COVID-19 to spend more time in God’s word with students in coming weeks
  • Providing for them financially.

Pray that God may:

  • Help them build good relationships with people at church
  • Draw students to put their trust in Jesus and grow their faith
  • Provide new financial partners next year

Parents, start KM online to view the latest from Georgie and QuizWorx.

Offertory

While we’re not physically meeting together, please remember that our gifts and service are acts of worship that also support the missions and ministries of Christ’s church. This year’s weekly budget targets are:

  • General Fund weekly target: $21,492
  • Mission Fund weekly target: $3,243
  • Building Fund weekly target: $6,923

Let us prepare our minds, our hearts and spirit to be shaped by God. May we be willing to allow God to have his way with us.

Give online

using bank transfer, Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Regular members can give online as an act of worship. visit: wsccc.org.au/giving/

General fund

BSB: 082080
Account number 482436244
Name: WSCCC

Mission fund

BSB: 082080
Account: 528560495
Name: WSCCC

Building fund

BSB: 082451
Account: 739320475
Name: WSCCC

Bible Reading

Today’s bible reading is Joshua 9:1–27

The Gibeonite Deception

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”

“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they ar our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

Sermon

1. What did the Israelite leaders do wrong?

      A. Eat the Gibeonites’ stale bread and drink their vinegarised wine.

      B. Not consult God before they made a decision.

 

2. Should the Israelites have made a covenant with the Gibeonites?

Song of Response

What does it mean for God’s people must walk by faith, not by sight?

  • It is having our eyes fixed on Jesus, we must trust in Jesus for our righteousness, not our merit.
  • We must rest in Jesus when life seems toilsome and dark, and not rely on our own strength. It is He who is the solid rock, that will not sink. He is our strength and stay.
  • We must have our hopes and dreams securely built on Jesus, because He will ensure we can stand faultless before the throne.

Thank you for joining our service today. We look forward to seeing you next week as we continue our series on the book of Joshua. A reminder that you can contact our Pastor Chadd (chaddhafercp10@gmail.com) if you have any prayer requests, questions or feedback from today’s online service.

Closing

Please discuss:

  • Outline one situation where you are tempted to: walk by sight and not by faith OR Not do your due diligence in obedience
  • How do the truths from Joshua 9 help you in this situation?