Category: Resources

Be creative

September 3, 2021

I read this today from the Vision180 devotional and it really encouraged me. I thought I would share it…

Be Creative 3

‘Be fruitful and multiply.’ Genesis 1:28 NKJV

Your heavenly Father created the world—and you are made in His image. That means you are wired to think creatively. God finished His creative work in six days, then our work began. God said, in essence, ‘I’ve provided you with all the resources and talents you need to have an abundant life. Now do something good with it.’

God didn’t make woollen jackets. He made sheep to give us wool, so we can create beautiful and colourful fabrics for warm outfits to protect us in cold weather. God didn’t make cheese; He made cows that give milk so we can create dairy products from it. 

The Bible describes the beginning of all things in these words: ‘Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.”’The word ‘multiply’ means that God wants you to end up with more than you started out with. But to do that you must begin to think creatively! 

Instead of simply accepting what is, take what is and make something more out of it. When you do that, you’re following in your heavenly Father’s footsteps. Sometimes churches pour cold water on any thought or activity that isn’t religious, saying it’s ‘worldly’ and therefore God is not pleased with it. That’s like saying God only works within the four walls of a church. No, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.’ (Psalm 24:1 NIV) Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you do in life, God wants you to put your creativity to work so that you can glorify Him and bless others.

Encouraged by Vision180 devotional

August 14, 2021

I am reading this months devotional from Vision FM. It is called Vision180 magazine. Today’s reading is talking about creation. I really liked this thought from the very first paragraph…

“Science defines the universe as being made up of five components: time, space, matter, power, and motion. With that clearly in mind, read this: ‘In the beginning [time] God created [power] the heavens[space] and the earth [matter]. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved [motion] upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be…” and there was.’ (Genesis 1–3 KJV) The first thing God tells us in the Bible is that He created all things and that He controls all things.”

If you are interested in the devotion from Vision FM, you can find it here at vision180.org.au.

The power of one video

August 2, 2021

Years ago while doing outreach in our community I learned the power of having just one video and what it can achieve.

As a ministry we were giving away free Jesus Films in our local community. We would deliver pamphlets during the week to let people know that we would come the following weekend to give them a free movie about Jesus.

We found that one in every three homes wanted to take a video. This was inline with the national averages. They found one person wanted a video, one was not home and one person was not interested.

At one home we knocked on the door. A lady answered and said she was waiting for us to come. She was very keen to have a copy of the Jesus Film as she had been thinking about God lately.

We left her a free video and said we will be back in a few weeks to see how she went and if she had any questions.

When we returned a few weeks later we were very surprised by her response. We asked if she had watched the video. She said I watched the video and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. We were very happy.

Then she said that is not all. When her husband came home, they watched it together. Then all of her children had watched it and received Jesus too. We were overwhelmed that one video had brought a whole family of six to Christ.

Then she said that is not all. She took the video to her work in a nursing home and the 66 residents watched it and many of them received Christ. We were overjoyed and praised God.

This experience showed the power of just one evangelistic resource. One Jesus film reached over 70 people for Christ. Our intention was to reach one person, but it snow balled in to over 70!

From this time on I have never doubted the power of one video, one tract, or one visit to our website. We never know how God is going to use what we have in our hands.

Toady I wonder what I have in my hands that God could use? What have you got in your hands? We never know how God could use one evangelistic item for His Kingdom!

Free discipleship Bible study

July 31, 2021

One of our most popular resources at PASSION Australia is our free discipleship Bible study. It has been downloaded tens of thousands of times.

I originally wrote it to disciple my children when they were younger. Since then I have revised and expanded it and used it with our church for new Christians and our young people when I was a Pastor.

Over the years I have received emails of people telling me they used it for themselves, to disciple a friend, and churches using it for new Christians program. It has been even translated in to other languages.

Each page of the booklet has a simple study that will teach you about the Bible, prayer, church, serving God, sharing your faith, the role of the Holy Spirit and being assured of your salvation.

It includes a number of Scriptures on each topic, some reflection questions, an explanation of a key Bible word, a simple prayer and some Bible memory verses.

If you are interested you can download it for free. You don’t even have to put it your email address. You can find it here.

Transformed to be like Jesus

July 1, 2021

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT – But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

I was going to write some thoughts about this passage today and then I saw the notes for verse 18 in my Life Application Study Bible. It said it better than I could…

The Holy Spirit’s way of transformation works better and lasts longer than even Moses’ glorious experience. With the freedom the Holy Spirit gives, our false beliefs and misconceptions fall away. We can clearly see what God wants and better reflect it to others. The Spirit works progressively in us to point out where we need to change. Step-by-step, he gives us insights on how to do it and empowers us with his love. Some change happens quickly, but God works in his own timing. The process may be slow in some areas, so never give up if you don’t see the spiritual progress you desire. God will work it out (Philippians 1:6).