Commending & Contending

Loving Admin. Hannah Vella on Valuing Safe Ministry

Administration, in our churches, is an amazing space to show love. This is true especially in the area of Safe Ministry Compliance. As we adjust to a world where Safe Ministry admin is always a part of our service, how do we make sure we are loving, and remembering the reason why this matters.
Hannah recommended two articles:
Strategically Doing Less
What the Resurrection Means for us, by Rory Shiner

Being equipped by equipping others, with Jesse Morrison

Being ready to contribute in church community is a significant part of how we can grow in our own faith. In this episode we talk with Jesse Morrison about how that's working at the church he is part of.

Women and men, contending side by side, with Kara Hartley

Kara shares with us some of the encouragements and also the dangers as we seek to contend together in our churches, where women and men serve together in the cause of the gospel.
Kara also speaks to those who've lost confidence in how they could meet and read the Bible with another person.

Never Too Old, Rod Bayley and the Call to Plant Churches

Rod Bayley has a story to share about how he came to offer to lead the church plant coming from the church where he was senior pastor. Rod also gives us a window into the Illawarra Network of The Gospel Coalition Australia. As a 'network of networks', The Gospel Coalition Australia encourages local leaders to support one another in our calling to commend and contend for the gospel of Jesus.

Getting ready to have conversations about Jesus, with Helen Bell

We chat this episode with Helen Bell about how to be better prepared for conversations about Jesus. How do we help them come up and how can we be prepared to say something that will spark interest and more conversation?
Also, Helen explains how Taylor Swift is getting us ready for heaven.

Cultivating Curiosity, with Archie Poulos

Archie shares with us the power of taking a stance of curiosity when we engage with books and writers outside our Christian circle. He invites us to consider how we might learn from the wisdom that God has scattered generously amongst all people.
Archie recommends some interesting books, which challenged him to think about how we might be ready to commend and contend for the gospel, as the church.
 
Archie Poulos lives and work in Sydney,

Our Extraordinary God, at work in us ordinary people

We're back for Season 2, joined in this first episode by Anne Eckermann, who share the story of Grace Conference, run for women in Adelaide. She takes us into the remarkable story of how God's extraordinary provision has helped ordinary disciples run this significant event.
 
Anne Eckermann lives and works in Adeliade, with her family. She has a passion for seeing women equipped with God's word to grow and influence others witht he saving news of Jesus Christ.

Season One Wrapped

We made it! All twenty episodes of Season One are done and dusted. We are grateful for all the guests who made time to join us on the podcast. And thanks also to all of you who’ve listened and shared (we’ve even been featured in a local church’s newsletter).
Sometimes our guests had more to say than we could fit in the episode, so we’ve saved those bonus bits and made sure you get to hear them in this final episode. Also, if you listen carefully, at about the halfway point of this episode, you’ll hear our friendly dog barking—just keeping it real.

The Sweet Joy of Hospitality

Bec lives and works in Perth, where she is busy in her church, home and work. But she made time to join us on this episode to share about the wonder and impact of hospitality. When we offer one another the welcome that God gives us in Jesus Christ, powerful things can happen. Bec has been intentional about this at the playgroup she coordinates.
You can find out more about Bec at her blog, The Sunday Morning Snuggle where you can read her poetry and listen to her podcast.

Paul Harrington: Staying at the Same Church Long-Term

Council member, Paul Harrington, joins us to talk about his long association with Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide. Paul first arrived as a new believer, and has stayed. It’s been decades of seeing God at work and being shaped by the faithful, gospel-hearted people around him.
What’s it like to stay put, and be in the same church over many years? What might God teach us through having such long discipling relationships?