At Katoomba Easter Convention we believe when God’s word is preached, lives are changed. For this reason, we ask gifted preachers to join us each year to proclaim the life-changing message of the gospel for our good and God’s glory.
We are thrilled to have Matt Fuller (Christ Church, Mayfair, UK) and Daniel I. Block (Wheaton College, Illinois, USA) on the platform at KEC in 2020.
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| There are many along the way who have inspired me at different times in different ways by their godly example or a word in season. "The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction." Proverbs 16: 21 Most recently, my dear friend Sam died of a thyroid cancer she had been fighting for 11 years. The cancer finally out ran the drugs. She loved the Lord Jesus and longed to die well. And she did. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" completely summed up her last years. Her desire to share the gospel with her family and friends right till her last breath really challenged my apathy and reticence in my own personal evangelism. She was a Head teacher who was loud, funny and confident but eventually she lost her voice through invasive surgery so she learnt to sign so that she could continue to sing the Lord's praises. |  Sam three weeks before her death. |
Her excitement in anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face confronted how comfortable I am in this world, how easily I forget: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God..." And her funeral, which she had planned down to the last detail was all about Jesus (except maybe her 1970's Motown Disco playlist at the refreshments after the service).
4. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing women in the Western church today?
The challenges are many and varied but I think the one I come across daily is the cult of "Self Love". I see it in the way we raise our children to believe they are the centre of the universe with the resulting carnage in homes and schools. I see it in the way we deal with each other in church - falling out over the slightest misjudged comment or perceived offence. I see it in the way we deal with the problems and issues living in a fallen world throws up. The irony is that believing the world, the flesh and the devil's lies about 'self' leads to fear and anguish - not freedom and happiness. Eventually, I think the cult of "Self Love" will be realised as the cause of some mental health issues, addictions and the breakdown of family life.
The world tells us that we are special, that we deserve to be happy, that we deserve to be treated in a certain way by those around us because we are worth it. We are constantly told we need to work on our self esteem; our self confidence, our self worth or our self actualisation. This all sounds well and good until you realise it actually doesn't work in practise. This is because in order for us to do whatever we want to feel good about ourselves, we are going to make a lot of people around us unhappy. It is a counsel of despair. I'm either going to make you more insecure as I place my worth and my happiness above yours or I'll become more insecure as you don't treat me the way I have been led to believe I should be treated. As Sharon Hodde Miller helpful puts it in her book Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not about You:
"The reason self-preoccupation causes insecurity is that it raises the stakes - on dating, parenting, working, and serving - by turning it all into a referendum on our worth. Every slight, every rejection, every awkward interaction must be about us.”
One of the most helpful books I have read on this was Timothy Keller's "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness". It outlines how God calls us into the bigger story - His story - where we learn to live for him instead of ourselves, as we were designed to before we went for self rule. When we shift our focus off ourselves - our fears, our appearance, our success, our self-doubt - and fix our gaze on Christ alone, we encounter the freedom we were created to have. When we learn what it means to be "In Christ" and we find our identity and security and worth in Him; as we learn to serve rather than be served, we will finally learn to be free of me. If we could learn to live this out as women of Christ I really think it would transform our families, our churches and attract a lost generation to Christ.
The world tells us that we are special, that we deserve to be happy, that we deserve to be treated in a certain way by those around us because we are worth it. We are constantly told we need to work on our self esteem; our self confidence, our self worth or our self actualisation. This all sounds well and good until you realise it actually doesn't work in practise. This is because in order for us to do whatever we want to feel good about ourselves, we are going to make a lot of people around us unhappy. It is a counsel of despair. I'm either going to make you more insecure as I place my worth and my happiness above yours or I'll become more insecure as you don't treat me the way I have been led to believe I should be treated. As Sharon Hodde Miller helpful puts it in her book Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not about You:
"The reason self-preoccupation causes insecurity is that it raises the stakes - on dating, parenting, working, and serving - by turning it all into a referendum on our worth. Every slight, every rejection, every awkward interaction must be about us.”
One of the most helpful books I have read on this was Timothy Keller's "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness". It outlines how God calls us into the bigger story - His story - where we learn to live for him instead of ourselves, as we were designed to before we went for self rule. When we shift our focus off ourselves - our fears, our appearance, our success, our self-doubt - and fix our gaze on Christ alone, we encounter the freedom we were created to have. When we learn what it means to be "In Christ" and we find our identity and security and worth in Him; as we learn to serve rather than be served, we will finally learn to be free of me. If we could learn to live this out as women of Christ I really think it would transform our families, our churches and attract a lost generation to Christ.
5. What can women expect from your talks from Hebrews this year?
I want all women - but especially those who might be feeling discouraged and worn down - to be blown away once again by Jesus Christ. I want them to know who He is; what He has done and how He is all we need to persevere in the Christian life and to cross the finishing line. So I hope we will meet Jesus again in his word and get a glimpse of his greatness. That we will become ‘besotted with’, ‘captivated by’, ‘hooked on’ Jesus again, and as a result - perseverance will rise in our hearts and we will leave determined to keep on trusting in Jesus and following Jesus even through the dark cold winter nights of the soul.
Early Bird tickets now available!
Whether you have been a Christian for many years or are still seeking answers about God, come to OneLove and experience life changing preaching, inspirational testimonies, delicious food, amazing music and fantastic fellowship!
This year we're excited to have Bible teacher Lizzy Smallwood open up the book of Hebrews to encourage us that there is purpose in our perseverance, and Anne-Sophie Rowcroft will share with us from her experiences as a missionary in West Africa.
OneLove will be held on Saturday, 31 August 2019 in the heart of the city, at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall.
CLICK HERE to register now.
This year we're excited to have Bible teacher Lizzy Smallwood open up the book of Hebrews to encourage us that there is purpose in our perseverance, and Anne-Sophie Rowcroft will share with us from her experiences as a missionary in West Africa.
OneLove will be held on Saturday, 31 August 2019 in the heart of the city, at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall.
CLICK HERE to register now.
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